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Buena Vista
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
3147 N Broadway St(at Briar Pl)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 871-5782
- Nearest Transit:
-
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
Wellington (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
124 reviews for Buena Vista
Review Highlights
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"Chips and salsa were both fresh and homemade." In 21 reviews -
"Their mole sauce is some of the best I've had." In 10 reviews -
"The portions are huge and very reasonably priced." In 7 reviews
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123 reviews in English
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Review from Laura B.
Lakeview, Chicago, IL
5/9/2012
After a long day of moving to my new apartment, my boyfriend was craving some good quality Mexican food. We had walk by this place multiple times before but we've just never stopped in before. I am so glad that we did. My boyfriend didn't talk the entire time because he was too busy shoveling food into his mouth.
I got the chicken enchilada and he got the steak enchilada. Both were SO GOOD. The chicken enchilada simply melted in my mouth. I couldn't stop eating it even though I was stuffed.
The fact that this place was some of the best Mexican I have ever had and was so cheap made it a place that we will be coming back to over and over again. -
Review from Sophia L.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012
GOOD, CHEAP, BYOB!!!!!
This place gets it done. Good food at a good price, and you can't beat BYOB!!! This is the first place I think of when I am craving Mexican food and a beer or two, want to stay close and keep my pocketbook in check.
Atmosphere is quaint and humble. Perfect place to go with a few friends or a date to have a relaxing dinner and convo. -
Review from Larisa O.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012
Oh my goodness, this place is so affordable and so wonderful and they get the food ready so fast. It's clean and cheerful, with a gracious gentleman handling the register. Prices are great. The chicken tacos ($2 each) and chicken burrito ($5.50) are amazing, as is the mole burrito. The Chilaquiles are delish, too. The green salsa is full of cilantro, tastes Peruvian. I've been coming here a few days a week because it's close to my office. I'm totally addicted. I think actually this is the best chicken burrito I've ever had.
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Review from Jamie O.
Chicago, IL
5/7/2012
I am so full, OF DELICIOUS ENCHILADAS DE POLLO CON MOLE. (chicken was much better than ground beef) I have walked by this store front a hundred times and not until tonight did I experience its tasty, cheap food thanks to a quick Yelp search. Perfect spot for BYOB and/or Mondays when many other restaurants are closed.
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Review from Ryan G. S.
Chicago, IL
4/2/2012
I didn't realize how good Buena Vista was until I went to some of the other BYOB Mexican places in Lakeview/Wrigleyville. Sure, there is better Mexican food in the city. But if you're near Broadway and Belmont, there is nothing cheaper, better, or more convenient than Buena Vista. The mole is solid, and the chilaquiles are the perfect way to soak up a hangover. There's a liquor store literally right across the street where you can get a family-sized Corona or a bottle of wine before grabbing a table. There are even a few tables outside in the summer. ¿Qué más quieres?
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Review from Mason C.
Chicago, IL
3/31/2012
This is a solid 3 star mexican restaurant. Very cheap and quite tasty food. Everything you are familiar with at a typical mexican place makes an appearance here. The only reason I didn't give it more stars is because it's a pretty basic restaurant. Nothing was mind blowingly awesome.
One main gripe I have is the fact that this place is really small. The small place makes the noise level go up a little too much in my opinion. Everyone was screaming at each other to talk the night i went. -
Review from S P.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Best salsa in the city! My new favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. Awesome service, the place is very small just a handful of tables. Beautiful decor. Chicken enchiladas de mole was perfect as was the shrimp fajita platter. The best mole sauce I've had, tons of flavor. I recently decided that i wouldn't visit a restaurant twice in an attempt to diversify my palate but I'm making an exception now, I'll be back here many times!
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Review from David N.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2012
what a great BYOB Mexican restaurant. I have walked by this place many times over the past 2 years living in Lakeview, but just recently came here with a couple friends. The staff is so friendly and accommodating, the chips and salsa were excellent. The food is pretty good and great portions. It is small, so sometimes there is a wait for a table, but it is well worth it. Great place to come with a few friends and have a great dinner!!
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Review from Mike K.
Chicago, IL
7/12/2011
Buena Vista is an austere, bare bones, BYOB little Mexican joint on Broadway. I searched the Yelp one day to find a place to eat over on what's almost become my new stomping grounds (the Mecca known as Lakeview) and came up with Buena Vista since it's in one of the four food categories - pasta, burgers, pizza and Mexican.
Buena Vista has the usual Mexican specialties and the usual chips and salsa. I can't say I was a fan of the green or red salsas, but I did bear with them. Green sauce of any kind is going to turn me off.
The tacos at Buena Vista were okay. Were they four-star caliber? I don't think so. I'd put them on par with or maybe a smidge above Nueva's tacos. About the only difference between the two places is that you get the chintzy decor and alcohol at Nueva.
I think I preferred one or two of the tacos at Taco Joint to the ones at Buena Vista. I guess I'm just not very authentico. Mang.
Three stars. -
Review from kat v.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
Oh-My-God I love you Buena Vista
I have recently had to go on dietary restrictions (no gluten, low nickel) and Buena Vista is one of the few Mexican places that is able to accomodate me without making me pay full price for half the amount of food.
Gluten free: Their corn tortillas! So green light on the tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. -
Review from Stormy D.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2011
A burrito with potato dices, peas and carrots. I do not want my Mexican food tasting like Grandma's pot roast. And that's what it tasted like.
Maybe it's a Mexican "regional" thang but I can do that myself with a can of Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup and a tortilla. They try this up in Edgewater for the newbies from Oklahoma too. -
Review from Justine M.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2011
Very good mexican food! 2 different types of salsas, both very good.
Our dishes were very good and good priced.
Got the Chicken Flautas, friend got the steak fajitas and boyfriend got the enchiladas with verde sauce. All very good!
We got the fried ice cream and it was perfect for 3 to share. Only $3!
It's also BYOB. Downfall is the size :/. Wish it were bigger -
Review from Anna A.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2011
I had the steak burrito suizo with mole sauce and chips and guacamole on Sunday, June 19, 2011. The next day I woke up with nausea and food poisoning symptoms. The symptoms lasted two days. I have never had food poisoning in my life, and I have eaten at various places around the world where the handling of meat and dairy products are questionable compared to American standards.
I thought the food was just okay. Their guacamole was nothing to write high praises about, very average. The steak burrito, mole sauce, re-fried beans and rice was average as well.
I would have gone back to tame down a Mexican food craving, but since I got food poisoning, I will not go back. However, don't let my experience spoil it for others if the location is convenient. My predecessors seemed to have no enter-gastritis problems after visiting this establishment.
They seem to deliver, and the place is BYOB, which are huge bonuses. The restaurant is very small with very limited seating. -
Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2011 ROTD 7/4/2011
A brief review. . . when you're in the neighborhood and you just gotta have it, this is the place to go.
Picture this: a sunny, cold afternoon; an empty restauant, save for one waiter; and a baby boomer salivating for a taste of Mexico. Since a week-long trip to Puerta Vallarta is not currently in the cards, next-best choice is something hot and greasy.
So I looked at the menu and said to myself, "Self, what do you really want?" And Self said, I want something hot and messy and spicy and totally satisfying and probably verboten on the Weight Watchers plan. So Self and I ordered an appetizer- queso fundido with chorizo.
It arrived in a big bowl made of taco chips, with a side of four warm flour tortillas (my choice - didn't want corn). The cheese was hot and runny. A pile of chorizo was dribbled all over the surface, like gravel, but tastier. I took a taco chip and scooped out a hot, drippy mess. The cheese was melty and long trails of stringy cheese trailed down my chin.
Oh my God, I thought - this has got to be better than cocaine could ever be. How could something so delicious be legal? I took a tortilla and dug in. It was fantastic. It was satisfying. It cleared my sinuses. Warmth spread through my chest (from the inside, that is - I didn't dribble THAT much!).
I ate all four tortillas, and made pretty good progress on the taco bowl itself. All this happened around 3pm, and I'd had nothing to eat since about 8am. After this, I didn't need or want dinner. I went home and belched spices for hours. It was wonderful. I'm so glad I did this.
Sometime I will go back and eat a real meal there, or order it for delivery.
By the way, two other women came in and checked out the menu, and ended up leaving without ordering. One of the two was a vegan. She saw nothing she could order. They went somewhere else where her dietary choices could be addressed. I eavesdropped on them while slurping cheese and chorizo. I like my choices better. -
Review from Dennis L.
A solid Mexican restaurant at a great value.
I was in the neighborhood working out, and I figured why not go replenish the calories I just burned. Well, not exactly my thoughts, but that surely was the result. My wife and I stopped in to Buena Vista for a late dinner. First off, the complimentary chips and salsa are great. The salsas were truly delicious. I decided to go a with a Chicken Burrito Suizo w/ Mole Sauce, and I am so glad that I did. The burrito was huge as were the flavors.
The atmosphere is pretty basic, but the service was attentive and friendly. Very good experience overall! -
Review from Sadie S.
Springfield, IL
10/28/2011
Nice heat to the red salsa; green was very mild. Wonderful queso fundito and chorizo. Nice waitress and no cork fee!
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Review from Julie H.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2010
Did you just put a birds eye blend in my veggie burrito then smother it in barbecue sauce?
Please try again! -
Review from Lindsey W.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2011
So three stars may not be saying enough about Buena Vista, but for my first visit I wasn't overly impressed. Love that it's BYOB and around the corner, but the service was a little lacking and it's only ten tables!
I took the other Yelper suggestions and ordered something with the Mole sauce, but I wish I would have ordered Tacos al pastor.
The portions are huge, the mole sauce is actually quite spicy but the rice has corn, peas and carrots in it. Not my personal fave.
I will try again because it's so close, maybe a better experience next time! -
Review from Dan B.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
Buena Vista was the first Mexican restaurant my girlfriend and I visited after we moved here 6 months ago; our inaugural experience was truly a delight. At glance, its quite unassuming, but this family operation always outputs great service and very tasty cuisine.
We've gotten a fair variety of the menu at this point, so I feel comfortable throwing this place a 5-star review. Right from the get-go, the salsa was bright, bold, and not afraid of a little fire. The steak is amazing, which cannot be said for many Mexican restaurants, and the mole sauce was super-tasty. Their chorizo has sass, and fajitas are always sizzlin' with heat and flavor. On top of all the vibrant tastes, the service is consistently top-notch, with our water glasses never descending below half-full and our chips and salsa being replenished beyond our capacity.
If you like family-owned and operated restaurants full of heat and flavor, make this unsuspecting joint a stop on your tour of East Lakeview. -
Review from Desire' M.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2011
Started out with free chips and 2 salsas. No AC so the place was pretty warm even with the front door propped open. Said they were going to set up a patio soon though.
The food was average. Nothing really wowed me but it was good. Had the chile rellenos, pork tamales, steak burrito, chicken mole, and guacamole. No, not all by myself, but I did taste it all. -
Review from Liz C.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2010
Fresh, delicious (non-greasy) Mexican Food + BYOB + Very Inexpensive = I love Buena Vista! This place is truly a hidden gem on Broadway.
Try the Chicken Burrito, Fajitas or Enchiladas Suizas. You will not be disappointed and your wallet will give you a big hug! -
Review from Samantha M.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2011
I LOVE this place. Best Mexican grub in the neighborhood, by far. Super homey, nice people, great service, amazing food.
I've been here numerous times with different people, and they all love it. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas...it's all awesome. I'd honestly feel good about trying anything on the menu.
My absolute favorite thing is the tacos pastor. Juicy marinated pork with chopped onions and cilantro. Legit. If you've never heard of it or never had it, enlighten yourself. I promise it's worth it. The homemade guacamole is fantastic, and their chips and salsa are delicious (and free!) I'm actually getting hungry just thinking about it...
Best part? I don't think I've ever spent even close to $10. The prices are great, and the portions are plentiful. They also have the classic Mexican bottles of coke, with real sugar. Perfect. Go here! -
Review from Sarah K.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
We ate here last night and I was pleasantly surprised to find delicious and relatively healthy Mexican food close to our house!
The menu here covers all of the typical Mexican favorites, however it adds in a few extras such as a rich mole sauce and several fresh salsas.
We were warmly greeted at this family establishment and quickly brought water, chips, and two fresh salsas. We ordered the vegetable burrito with mole sauce and the salsa verde cheese enchilladas. Both were served with rice and beans (contrary to other yelp reviews, these were vegetarian). Our food was quickly prepared and the portions were HUGE!
The only glitch was that we used a coupon with which the staff was unfamiliar and they made us feel slightly uncomfortable.
Oh yeah, the horchata was great as well! Woo hoo! -
Review from Stacy H.
Chicago, IL
12/21/2010
Came here Saturday night looking for cheap Mexican food with our beer in tow - love that it's BYOB!
Very small place so we had to wait a few minutes for a table and it's a little crowded, but it's still very cute and cozy.
The food was delicious - you have to order the queso funido with chorizo, I could have made a meal entirely of that. In fact, the cheese was so filling we hardly touched our burrito, which was also great. But it was also good reheated the next day.
The service was great and everyone is very nice and friendly, this will definitely be a regular place for us! -
Review from Thor D.
Evanston, IL
1/12/2011
My favorite Mexican restaurant. I come at least once a month. It used to be three times a week when I lived in the area, but I still make my way up to Lakeview just to come to Buena Vista.
The owner(s) are very attentive and always warm. The free hot tortilla chips and salsa (both green and red) are outstanding, though I prefer the more-spicy red. The place is perfect for a small group and for an intimate date. Even better, come on your own with a book during the day, sit at a table by the window, watch the folks passing by, and feel lucky that you live so close to my favorite restaurant.
The Enchiladas con Mole, two chicken one beef...yes please. Honestly, once I tried their mole, I couldn't stray away from this dish. Sometimes I'll order the Enchiladas con Mole, two with chicken, one Verde with beef. I like that they're able to make that happen because from my experience, most other Mexican restaurants won't.
Once piece of advice: if you're in a bit of a rush and they are very busy, ask for the check when they come to take away your plates--or just go up to the front and pay. Otherwise, it might take 20 minutes.
Also, try not to fill up on the chips for your body's sake. I always leave feeling like I might diarrhea, vomit, and explode all at the same time--not from bad food, but from overeating. -
Review from Eme L.
Mountain View, CA
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have searched high and low, but no place does a better al pastor taco. I craze it every time I'm back in Chicago for a visit. They are so good! This place is very clean and has nice, simple decor. The service is usually pretty good (a bit slow this time) and you can get a great meal for very little. Love this place!
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Review from Hauwei L.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011
Really solid food, reasonably priced, tasty al pastor, big tortas. Worth a shot if you're in the area.
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Review from Nick H.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2007
Excellent portions, decent prices, and above average food make this one of my favorite Mexican spots in the city. Based on those three factors it would be a four star restaurant but there is more.
They serve glass bottle coke here. Not only is it glass bottle, it is a big glass bottle. And not only is it a big glass bottle, it is made in Mexico. Which means that they use cane sugar to make it. And it is deeeeelicious. If you so choose, you can get them to buy cases of the glass bottle coke for you.
When I used to spend a lot of time in this neighborhood on summer days, I could not often walk by without popping in to get a coke. -
Review from William L.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been here a couple times; its near my house. Its a small place, but cozy and intimate. You can also get your food to go. The portions are huge and very reasonably priced. I have been able to eat each time under $10 with a lot of great food. Sure, Mexican places are all over, but the setting here is a little different. Waiter service, nice patio, cool art. A nice place to relax, chill and have a great bite to eat!
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Review from Katie H.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2007
I've gotten take out here on several occaissions and finally had the chance to eat in recently. The portions are huge and the prices are low, but more importantly this is some of the best Mexican food in the city. The service inside can be slow, and there is no ambiance to speak of, but consider that it is just one person running table and take out service.
The queso fundido is excellent. Huge, cheesy, and served with a ton of flour tortillas. My husband swears by the burrito with rice and beans. He easily gets two big meals out of it. The guacamole and salsa are quite good. The enchiladas and rice and beans are all fantastic and the real standout, the mole sauce, is the best I have ever had. It is the perfect mix of chocolately, spicey and smokey. I often just pick up a side of it and take it home to make nachos with. -
Review from Susan F.
8/26/2009
I really enjoyed Buena Vista, but I'm so disappointed in myself for not trying this place earlier!
I always heard that it was great, and to not judge it by it's crappy overhead sign.
There is outdoor seating and minimal indoor seating, but this place serves quality Mexican.
With an extensive menu of apps, dinner, lunch, and a la carte(choose from this menu, actually a lot cheaper) this place has it all--EXCEPT Margaritas...damn.
They use real chicken...not the bits n dicey pieces some crappy places serve.
Service is super quick and they have great chips! The salsa is ok, they have both red and salsa verde.
I would suggest the burritos and tacos, chicken or steak, both great!Listed in: Ma hood, MexiCAN and WILL eat all of…
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Review from Bonita G.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2012
Delicious and cheap, what more can you ask for? The pork tamales were so delicious! The food is very filling. I ordered 2 tacos and 2 pork tamales and in truth, 1 of each would be sufficient for me. The horchata was ridiculous palatable! Once I started drinking it, I couldn't not stop until I reach the bottom of the glass. Next time, I am ordering two horchatas!
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Review from Damian C.
Updated - 5/12/2010 13 Check-ins Here
This place has suddenly become a once-a-week spot for me!
MAJOR ALERT!! YOU MUST try the Queso Fundido with Chorizo for an appertizer!
Picture it: ooey gooey chihauhua cheese and greasy ground-up chorizo steaming out of a taco shell bowl.
Yes, a taco shell bowl.
You know it's not the least bit healthy, but it's so freaking good who cares?! Two gyms are within a few blocks distance.
It's so huge you could turn it into your meal.
One more tidbit - they are now on http://Restaurant.com, so buy a gift certificate - your meal will cost next to nothing!Listed in: Sexi Mexi!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2010
Yay! I'm a fan.
It's true.
This little hole-in-the-wall dive-looking spot on Broadway that I've… Read more »
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Review from Chaviva G.
Denver, CO
3/26/2008
Although I don't think this place is anything to write home about, it serves decent "Mexican" food, quick, fast, and hot.
So why am I giving it four stars? Well, the horchata was pretty amazing. It tasted like liquid rice pudding. Not to mention that the portions are hefty and the salsa is absolutely spicy-licious.
I'll probably go back here, if only because it's sort of close, I know it won't make my insides curdle, and because the folks who work there are pretty friendly. I'm glad I finally got here. You should too? -
Review from Danny M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 7/6/2009 1 Check-in Here
To me, Buena Vista is going downhill. For the past few times I have gone to visit, the steak has gotten chewier and chewier, almost to make me want to vomit. The chicken is bland so I cant really trade off. I can only imagine what cut of beef that steak is and/or the quality grade. My assumptions is grade F.
To make matters worse, the server (there are only 2), has gotten significantly more rude. Like Sir, I dont get what your deal is, but chewy steak and poor service wont be good for business. Maybe he was having a bad day, but it was a real turn off. I find myself going less and less, which is not a good sign.
Chips and salsa are still top notch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/10/2009
This place was a great find. As a warning, it is a small restaurant with small tables (heed warning… Read more »
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Review from Kristen D.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2009
I am forever searching for Mexican food, not because I can't find any i like, but just because I LOVE it and am always up for a new place. This little gem is conveniently located on the end of my street and I am yet to be disappointed by them. I always order enchiladas with just cheese in them (weird, I know) and to spice it up a little I get the Verde sauce. It comes with a really generous portion of rice and beans, very standard but it is so delicious.
I kind of don't like how Yelp fills in the 4 or 5 stars with little expressions for you, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" It's like I want to give this 5-stars but I'm not saying you will never find another mexican place as good as this one. You probably will, but for a little hole-in-the-wall joint, this place is serving up some pretty darn good food. -
Review from Sean B.
12/29/2009
I just had a really bad experience here. This was disappointing because I'd had a reasonably good experience here once before.
I ordered an enchilada mole with steak for take out. They prepared it fast, but when I got home, I couldn't bite into the steak bits. It was like I got all scraps from the steak. Only maybe one in three was edible. Also, the sauce melted the styrofoam container all the way through in three spots and all the sauce was in the bag and made a big mess on my table.
I was left wondering whether there was actually styrofoam/plastics in my dinner.
I'm disappointed because I'd hoped a take-out would be as good as a sit down here. Maybe they can fix this one for me. -
Review from Allie B.
Chicago, IL
3/31/2008
I love their burritos! Warning: they are huge!
Chips and salsa are great, the owners are very polite, and it's BYOB! It's perfect! -
Review from Shaina K.
3/22/2010
Awesome prices, awesome food. Everyone was very friendly, and the service was decent.
Chips and salsa were both fresh and homemade! And the chips were warm and crispy, which was a big plus.
I ordered a beef burrito. ($5.50) Food came out super fast and the portion was huge! Easily two meals. It was filled with lots of meat, and other yummy goodness. The guacamole was just ok, nothing that great.
The only negative is that the restaurant is super small. Only 10 tables in the whole place. -
Review from Leah S.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2009
Either I just purchased a time machine, or it was caveman night at Buena Vista.
First lets get past the "you rolling your eyes at me" part because I ordered chicken soup at a Mexican restaurant and onto the fact that
I literally had two whole chicken legs in my bowl and half of a cob of corn. Had the soup been amazing this would have been quite the treat, but I felt like I was eating the results of a day's worth of hunting and gathering.
That being said, my burrito eating boyfriend just shouted at me to "tell them the mole is amazing".Listed in: Fat Kids in the LV
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