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Chicks 'n' Salsa Mexican Grill
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
Baker Hill Shopping Center874 Roosevelt Rd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138
(630) 790-1100
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 9 pm
Sat 10 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Chicks 'n' Salsa Mexican Grill
Review Highlights
"We love the nachos with chicken and Fish tacos."
(in 31 reviews)
"The veggies go perfectly with the pico de gallo."
(in 5 reviews)
"...a salsa station, and their spicy habanero has a good kick..."
(in 4 reviews)
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel J.
11/22/2011
Oh yum. Hot, fresh, and inventive dishes served here.
I have tried a few things off the menu here, and I must say I have discovered the PERFECT order. One shrimp taco, one fried fish taco, and a sharable-size guacamole.
The "sauce bar" is always neat, and well stocked with little cups and lids for the taking. Go ahead and get sauced, dude!
The staff, from the front end to the cooks all got it goin' on. For this price, I feel like a thief. -
Review from Renita M.
12/8/2011
I bookmarked Chicks n Salsa over two years ago. I'm glad it's still around for me to try.
I wasn't blown away, but I did think it was tasty and solid food. (The ever-popular three and a half stars, here, for the overall experience -- four star food.)
The menu is an eensy bit confusing. We definitely wanted chips and salsa with our food, and the menu does not indicate that you get chips with your order. I also think it would be nice to have "combos" where you can add a side without getting a full "side order" of beans or whatever. Some of the entrees come with sides but most don't and it's a little hard to tell what does.
That said we ended up with three (fried) fish tacos for me, a steak torta for him, and chips and salsa to share.
The chips did not appear to be freshly made but were still pretty good; the salsa IS freshly made and was quite good. They had mild chipotle and pico de gallo, medium salsa verde and hot habanero. We didn't try the habanero although I imagine it probably wasn't that hot -- the medium barely gave me a tingle. I did like the flavor of it a lot, though.
My tacos were quite delicious but also messy. They were piled wrapped in paper in a little boat, and I got cabbage and chipotle mayo all over the place. How about a plate, guys? (I know, I could have asked for one.) The tortillas also stuck to the paper some. But the fish was well-fried and the cucumber-cabbage slaw was very good. I appreciated three big juicy lime wedges, too.
My husband reported that his torta was very tasty, but soon after we left the restaurant he started feeling queasy, so clearly something didn't sit right with him.
He'll be a hard sell to return, but I can imagine I'll be back on my own. I want to try the burritos and more of that salsa verde.Listed in: Fiesta!
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Review from David K.
Carol Stream, IL
11/15/2011
All right. My boyfriend and I are piggies. We ordered the quarter chicken meal, tex-mex corn, spanish rice, chips, 3 baja fish tacos, 3 shrimp tacos, and 3 chicken taquitos. Everything was fresh and pretty good, but we decided when we come back we're only getting fish tacos. The fish was battered evenly, not greasy, and the portions were good. The bf took the cucumbers out because that's not how they do it in Cali.... Shrug.
The restaurant itself is clean. Not a lot of people that dine in, but a ton of carry-out patrons. They also have a salsa bar. And yes, being a child (or a wonderful yelp reviewer), I tried all of them. Nothing special there... the pico is decent, and the green sauce pairs best with the fish tacos. Warning for those that don't like spicy: the habanero sauce isn't fire-hot but the kind that creeps up on you so don't get overly confident ;)
Overall, good for fish tacos; meh for everything else. -
Review from Mister Z.
Glen Ellyn, IL
1/24/2012
Chicks n' Salsa is fresh ... so exciting to me.
It's fresh exciting,
so inviting to me ...yeah
Thanks Kool & the Gang ...
I think Chicks is a great fast/casual Mexican restaurant.
I live in Glen Ellyn, but for the longest time I had no desire to try this place. I was content to get burrito bowls from Chipotle or the occasional item from Los Burritos Tapatios. I finally stopped by for lunch one day, and I've been a regular ever since.
Chicks' doesn't re-invent the wheel, but I do think it is a step above other fast-casual Mexican restaurants in the area. There's a sense of freshness to the food, everything is made to order. One of the drawbacks is the wait, I usually call ahead, but for those not prepared ... the wait time is noticeable.
As other reviewers have noted, the fish tacos are exceptional. I also really enjoy the chicken and steak tacos. The quality of the meat is a notch above what you might expect. I would say the guacamole is a solid four out of five stars. And I feel like, their "nacho supremo" is among the best nacho plates in the western suburbs. The menu is pretty big, not everything is a home run. But they nail the basics.
I've brought a number of friends to Chicks' and almost all of them became fans.
Service is usually really good. I go there a lot, and have only had a couple issues (forgetting items). Most of the employees are eager to help.
Positives:
Food is fresh to death, great flavors, exceptional value
Negatives:
Wait time, lackluster dine-in space
Me gusta. -
Review from Dave H.
Glen Ellyn, IL
1/20/2012
My wife and I decided to try this place because they always send us coupons. We got the fish tacos and they were ok. This place is built like a Baja Fresh with many salsas and sides. Fish tacos are hard to find so this is your best bet in Glen Ellyn.
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Review from Tara A.
Addison, IL
10/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Love, love, love!
Food is excellent! Service is great. Place is clean. They cater to people who have allergies. Also, they have a salsa bar! They give free tortilla chips with any order. Make sure you get the horchata or the strawberry lemonade. They are so refreshing! -
Review from Dalibor Z.
Bloomingdale, IL
8/25/2011
The 50's Diner ... mexican joint. I, also was confused initially.
Ok, so I'm glad I waited to do this review till today. Here's the scale of things. Chipotle and Qdoba are 4 stars almost every time. Slight differences in experience based on location and staff, but for the most part, consistent. This place would have been a 4, but then I had a 5 star Mexican joint today. And I had to drop it down.
If you didn't read the name, and just walked in, initially, the layout and decor remind me of a "modern 50s Diner" ... and then you realize it's Mexican food. I got a breakfast quesadilla which was pretty good, and a fairly large size, served with chips, for the price. The rest of the group got 2 burritos and a burrito bowl. The group review for the other 3 dishes was a collective "meh". I tried one of the burritos, and I had to agree. Not a lot of seasoning on the meat in the burritos, and overall just a good flavor, not great.
A single complaint I have was that it did sort of take longer than I would have liked to get the food. I mean to get something that's half as big as a Chipotle burrito, in a place that's half as busy, it took easily three times the amount of time.
Overall, it wasn't awfully priced, and I wouldn't mind going back, but if there's a choice, I'd go somewhere else. -
Review from M S.
Schaumburg, IL
1/14/2012
Not your ordinary tacos. I love the food here. Tasty and near authentic. I would tell everyone to try this place. Yummy. Try their fish tacos and you will not regret it.
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Review from Matt H.
Homer Glen, IL
8/21/2011
I feel like I've tried enough things here to write an honest review. I try to avoid writing a review having had just one meal (if iit's practical, that is)
I've now tried fish tacos (grilled and battered/fried), steak burrito, grilled chicken, chips, salsas...
My summation of everything is "OK". It's *good*, not anything great. Not a lot of bold flavors going on or anything really special. It is fresh and there are a lot of healthy options (sweet potatoes, +1) which is really nice.
The fish tacos are pretty good. Above average. The battered is just too much when combined with the mayo-ey slaw. The grilled was much better. Again, not too much flavor. When I added the spicy salsa it was pretty good. I just needed some heat.
The chicken was pretty good, but again, a place I frequent near my work (Stav's) serves a grilled chicken with much better spices for about the same price. It was a good value though...at 7.75 for a half chicken and 2 sides + chips/tortillas, that's a good deal.
The steak burrito, again, not to sound like a broken record, was pretty much flavorless. Just a huge mess of ingredients with no real taste.
Not trying to sound like a hater....like i said it is fairly inexpensive, a good value and they have fresh ingredients. The salsa bar is nice and I liked all of the options. As far as fast food mexican places go, I'd rather eat here than Chipotle , but that's as far as I can really go. -
Review from Wendy C.
8/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A couple weeks ago I went here with a friend. I ordered the fish taco (grilled) since my friend highly recomended it. I'm glad I listened because it was the first fish taco I ever had and definitley not the last. It was so tasty and a very refreshing meal with the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes in the taco. These ingredients might seem strange at first, but they compliment the fish very nicely.
The salsa bar is simple, but it's a nice touch. Guacamole is a must. -
Review from Adam K.
6/27/2011
Went here for a lazy Sunday-night dinner. I order the shrimp tacos and my wife ordered the chicken quesadillas, we also ordered their guacamole and chips, all for about $20, though we did have a $3 off coupon. I guess if I had to boil it down to one sentence, I would say that I didn't feel as though I got my money's worth. The tacos were good, not great, Leslie said the same of her food. I did like that we were able to sit outside, I did enjoy the food, but nothing blew me away.
If you're looking for a fairly reasonable sit-down meal, this place is good for that. The food is about as authentic as you can get at a quick-serve Mexican place and it tastes fresh. Good place for young families with kids. Reminded me a lot of Baja Fresh, almost exactly the same feel. -
Review from Elaine S.
West Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/27/2011
My concerns from earlier this year were addressed by the owner. We were able to go back today and the food was really good and did not take nearly as long as last time. This time we had the fish tacos, steak and potato burrito and quarter chicken. Everything was delicious and even though there was not a huge staff the people who were there were attentive and very friendly. Mind you, we were there at 3:45 on a Tuesday and there were only a couple of other people there at the time. Since we do enjoy the food, I think our best option will be going there at off times. It also helped that we ate there and we were given chips right away. I want to thank the owner for contacting me and getting us to come and try it again. I really did miss your fish tacos.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/22/2011
We don't live close to Chicks 'N Salsa but we go there when we are in the neighborhood. Last night… Read more »
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Review from Nancy G.
Downers Grove, IL
5/4/2011
I go there for their fish tacos, they are the best in the suburbs, that I know of. I prefer tacos on corn tortillas and you can have your choice there.
I am from California and I still haven't found fish tacos like they have out there, but being on the ocean does help. You can order them grilled, that's the way I like them, or fried if you prefer. They taste fresh and I think they are reasonably priced. The customer service is nice, you don't have to tip since it's counter service. -
Review from Aimee M.
3/12/2011
I've been lucky enough to visit SoCal many times to get to try some really good fish tacos. So I'm always in search of good fish tacos here in LaNoise, because who doesn't want to be reminded of sun/surf once in a while?
Right off, I notice that CNS is very clean and bright. Bright from all the windows. Not a lot to see though, except to watch the people coming and going in the strip mall. Service was very friendly.
I checked out the salsa bar (it's really just a small salsa table) and they offer a few different kinds of salsa. Mild tomatillo, Spicy habanero, mild green chili, pico de gallo, a bowl of chopped cilantro and a plate of lemon wedges. The green chili salsa was my favorite, it had a nice flavor, but I would have preferred more spice.
The fish tacos were just ok. I got the battered fish, but next time I think I'll go with it grilled. I did like all the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes added in. It had a nice spicy mayo sauce that added some good flavor. I just didn't find the fish itself all that flavorful.
The shrimp tacos though--those were excellent. The shrimp are small, but fresh. Great flavor throughout. it was also loaded with fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. I thought I only ordered one shrimp taco with fried shrimp, but I my order showed up with 2 shrimp tacos (the other taco with grilled shrimp). Heh, lucky me.
The menu is quite large. Between other types of tacos, there are burritos, quesadillas, grilled chicken, desserts, sides of chips/guac/beans. All orders come with a small side of crispy fresh tortilla chips! Lots more to try at future visits. Oooh and they serve breakfast too! No delivery, but you can call your order in for pick up. -
Review from Hummad H.
Naperville, IL
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Disappointed to say the least. I found this place on Yelp with all the great reviews, and I remembered eating here many years ago. The food wasn't bad... it just wasn't good. It was pretty flavorless.
We tried the grilled fish taco, chicken nachos and chicken and steak tacos. The steak and chicken was lacking any flavor, and the salsas also were lacking. It's a shame too, because the place is clean, and the staff seemed nice enough. -
Review from Chrissy W.
Glen Ellyn, IL
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
So my pal Tony is the mayor and the duke of this place. I used to love love love it. So I'm thinking to myself tonight, "I'll treat the P's to a taco dinner." Errr...make that a burrito dinner, as I'm the only one who made the sad mistake of ordering a taco.
So, I asked the guy what he thought of the tamales...his answer wasn't quite enough to make me believe that they were going to be great. I'm down with that...figured I'd try em anyways. Not terrible, but not the best. They were pretty average...not a lot of meat, not a lot of flavor, but throw on some of their delightful habañero salsa, melt some cheddar cheese and anything is phenom. The taco disappointed me most though...They over steamed the tortilla, so it was falling apart and stuck to the wax paper. I had to eat it with a fork. It was a big ole mess. Tasted great though. I love adding some extra pico and some of the habañero salsa to the tacos. Yum Yum.
Mom dug her chicky burrito and Dad was a huge fan of his gargantuan beefy burrito goodness. The chips were a hit and the salsas never disappoint. So overall grade C++ Don't mess up the taco next time, and it'll be a solid B. :D -
Review from Rebecca R.
Lake Forest, IL
1/23/2011 ROTD 8/12/2011
This place is great! I have been back three times, and each visit was delicious! I have ordered a veggie quesadilla, shrimp taco, grilled fish taco, rice and black beans, and chips with salsa.
Everything was fresh and full of flavor. I have decided to forget the rice and beans and order an extra taco because the rice and beans are very standard while the fish and shrimp tacos are awesome.
The service is always very friendly and they call you by name when your order is ready. You can eat there or take it to go. When they pack it up, it comes in great spill-proof containers that keep it warm and give you a huge helping of homemade chips.
This place is fresh, friendly, and delicious! -
Review from Ron S.
3/11/2011
I thought I would give Chicks 'N Salsa a try for a quick meal before an appointment. I ordered 3 steak tacos and the hand rolled chicken tamale. I didn't realize that you received complimentary taco chips. The lady had to chase me down because I didn't hear her. She was very nice. It took about 10 minutes for them to call my name to pick up my meal.
The 3 tacos were a good size with very fresh veggies and cheese. The ingredients were definitely a cut above typical taco joints BUT the steak was bone dry with very little kick to it. I had the same problem with the chicken taco, dry and not much spice. I'm glad that they have a salsa bar where you can doctor up your meal as well have somthing to dip your chips into. I'll give them another try, maybe it was an off night.
(3 steak tacos, 1 chicken tamale, 1 regular drink = $10) -
Review from Michael D.
South Elgin, IL
2/22/2011 1 photo
A friend of mines wife fancies herself as a fish taco afficiantado, and she recommended I try this joint out as we share the same desire for this fine delicacy. I did my research, checked the Yelp reviews and read the menu cover to cover prior to even getting in the car to make the trip.
Upon arrival I didn't need to think twice about my order...three fish taco meal, two baja (fried) and one grilled. And while I waited for my order to be completed, Guacamole.
A quick stop at the salsa bar... (seriously than a bar bar... Salsa bars are my second favorite type of bar) and I sat down to begin my journey into Chicks N Salsa.. The Guac was pretty good and very affordable considering the portion (almost double what you would get at the likes of Chipotle) chips were standard. Salsas were all very good.
On to the tacos..Not disappointed. Nice meaty cuts of fish. Good crunch on the fry. Fresh veggies of cucumber and cabbage were a nice compliment. My only minor complaint is I wanted more of the spicy mayo.. I'm sure I could have asked for some, but I was busy eating.
The grill taco was just as good. Nice flavor and a nice piece of fish. Such a pleasure to enjoy tacos when I don't have to dump salt on them for flavor.
OH! And they have horchata... as most Mexican restaurants should.. Very Cinnamony. Can't wait till I'm in the area again.. -
Review from Jody J.
Glen Ellyn, IL
3/28/2011
Having lived in San Diego for 4 years I am pretty picky about the fresh mex food. This place isn't half bad, just not quite Southern California. Having recently moved to Glen Ellyn, we have been trying a lot of the local places to eat. Chicks 'N Salsa has become one on our regular rotation. Yes, it does take a little time to get your food, but that is b/c it is all made to order.
We have gotten a few items for dinner (burittos, tacos) which are all decent, but our favorite reason for going there is the breakfast burritos. They are served all day long, just wish they would open at 7 am to grab one of the way to work, but has been our Sunday morning savior. Everyone there is extremely friendly and helpful. I would much rather frequent a place like this over Chipotle or Qdoba which are right down the street.
All-in-all, definitely worth a try. -
Review from Monica F.
Glen Ellyn, IL
8/26/2011
After stopping in looking for a good fish taco (or 2) and being completely satiated, I've made this fine establishment my new favorite place. Their food rocks! I always get the fish tacos, 2 grilled and 1 fried and always leave full. Very fresh ingredients and not greasy at all. The limes you get to squeeze on the tacos makes it soooo good. And their guacamole is fan-freaking-tastic. It's worth the trip just to try that alone. Only negative is one time the red head lady behind the counter yelled at the kid at the register in front of a bunch of customers to the point that his face turned bright red. I felt bad for him. Besides that, this place is money
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Review from Sujan P.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Corn muffin- so decadent, I love the chew corn kernels inside. Delicious
Horchata- tasty
Chips and salsa- that's some good salsa, not the best, but good
Tres leches cake- delicious, usually hard to find in these parts.
Always get a coupon- sweet! -
Review from Michael C.
Chicago, IL
7/31/2010
The best fish tacos - trying to decipher exactly what I love about them. It's not just one thing but a number of things when, all put together, make for an excellent taco. First - the fish (fried with a light, tasty batter) tastes like fish...not too fishy but you know it's fish. Next - the sauce...some sort of creamy sauce which comes to life when you squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Next - the toppings...all fresh and in abundance. Lastly - the shell...two moist corn tortillas to transport it to my mouth. Yum!
They also have a decent salsa bar.
Ambiance wise it's the quality of a sit down restaurant but the feel of a fast-food joint. Strange because it takes about as long to get your food as a sit-down place but, because of the ambiance, you expect it to be much quicker. They placate you with a free bowl of chips and salsa.
Why anyone would go to Taco Bell when you could go here is beyond me! -
Review from Melissa H.
Lisle, IL
7/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a great place for some inexpensive, healthy Mexican fare. Unlike Chipotle, you won't need to worry about ingesting half your day's calories, either.
This is a smaller, strip mall joint (but on the corner, so it's easy to see), with friendly people and clean facilities. I'm not into fish, but I tried their chicken tacos. I like that you can chose your tortilla type and it comes pretty clean (ie you control how spicy you want it). They've got a great salsa bar. Your food comes with a good amount of veggies on it in the first place, and it's not drowning in cheese that will leave you feeling 'gut-bombed.'
Tacos are about $2 a piece and I was full on 2 of them. Great for a cheap date! Lots of choices and good prices. I'll be back to try something else. -
Review from Leslie Q.
Lombard, IL
5/31/2010 ROTD 8/29/2010
My stomach is fully satisfied now that I've found my Mexican safe haven within 5 miles from my house.
A lot of my reviews are full of arguments that are so easily agreeable they're pretty much useless. Like, this pizza tasted so much better than that plastic cup I ate for breakfast. Or, the staff at the theatre made the Nazis seem like pure evil. Now reeling this back to legitimate Yelp review talk, it would be VERY easy for me to say Chicks n Salsa rolls its eyes at Chipotle, but it's something I must state considering their proximity to one another. Chipotle is just across Roosevelt, and I don't care that they are both in the 7th Heavenish town of Glen Ellyn, there is NOTHING worth tasting on that side of the street.
Here are some useful facts.
I ordered 3 vegetable tacos, a side of guac, and an iced tea for ten dollars. I wish it had been cheaper, but I also wish my hair didn't give off the idea that I'd just escaped from an African tribe. Guess I'll have to deal with this.
The cashier is a cute lady with two braids. She might keep these braids every day as a job requirement. Who knows? I just know it was appealing.
The restaurant is as clean as whistle. I felt so bad at the end of my meal that I'd made a mess. I cleaned it up myself. I hate feeling guilty.
I can understand how it might be difficult to retrieve your order when your name is called. Lucky for us, it wasn't crowded, but on a busy night, they'll need to raise their voices.
Vegetarians will be well fed! Bring your pale, brittle body here and eat with me!
Overall, this is my favorite Mexican place around! -
Review from Larry B.
Glen Ellyn, IL
8/8/2010
My wife and I are hooked on the Chicken Family Pack: a whole chicken cut up, corn muffins, grilled veggies, a baked sweet potato, pico de gallo and salsa - ready for takeout or dine-in in 10 minutes. We can't eat it all and have leftovers for another dinner.
Why, you ask?
* It's delicious. The chicken is marinated so well the flavor goes through the skin and into the meat. The veggies go perfectly with the pico de gallo. The baked sweet potato with brown sugar is a treat in itself. The muffins are soft, sweet, chewy (who needs dessert?).
* It's healthy. This is a claim rarely heard from Mexican restaurants. They do not use lard or MSG. The salsas and guacamole are made fresh every day. The rice & beans are 100% vegetarian. The food is not greasy or fatty, which is what you get at a typical cheap Mexican place.
* Your food is ready fast. I phone in my order, hop in my car and it's always ready by the time I get there. On really busy weekend nights I have to wait 15 minutes.
* The price is right. The family pack totaled $18.39 and they honored the $1 off coupon you get with every order.
Some people whine about the ambiance, which is "modern luncheonette," but it's OK with me. The decor is clean, casual and efficient. Also, there is no noisy bar full of drunks, there's no loud TV blaring Mexican programs, but there is a help-yourself bar of multiple salsas.
Look for the sign of the chicken with the giant sombrero and you can't go wrong. -
Review from Maria P.
Glen Ellyn, IL
8/9/2010
Let me start off by saying I gave this place a second chance. The first time I went I waited about 15 to 20 minutes for my food. The second time, I waited as well. I have no problem waiting if the food is decent, don't get me wrong.
My husband and I have tried their fish tacos which are supposed to be the best and unfortunately tasted kind of fishy. The shrimp tacos were decent, as were the quesadillas.
I can't say that I'll be running back any time soon. -
Review from Traci Z.
Elgin, IL
3/29/2010
The fish tacos are awesome. We went there for dinner on Friday because I saw they had fish tacos. I enjoy fish tacos, if they are made correctly and have good flavors. The fish tacos here was the best I have tried in a long time. They were so light and tasty. I was very excited that we found this place. My boyfriend got just a regular beef burrito and he enjoyed it. The habanero salsa was delicious. Loved they gave you some chips to go along with the meal.
The employees were friendly. I am pretty sure the owner was the one who took our order and she was very nice. She was talking to us like we were old friends. Since it was our first time there, we had a lot of questions and she was very helpful and patient answering them.
I will definitely be returning. I would love to try something else but the fish tacos will probably always win! -
Review from Jeanette K.
Addison, IL
8/30/2010
There have been so many great reviews on this place that I expected to be blown away by the food. It was good, but not like in a I-will-drive-30-miles-and-traipse-through-the-snow -to-get-to-Sultan's-Market kind of way. Maybe because I didn't try the award-winning fish tacos. Maybe because I use too many dashes in my reviews.
Anyways, I had the half chicken dinner. The chicken was excellent. You can really taste the citrus marinade, which turns the edges of the chicken a slight yellow-orange color. I also had the rice and black beans with my meal, which were kinda bland. The salsas on the salsa bar were ok, again nothing fabulous. The BF ordered nachos and taquitos; both were meh.
Overall, Chicks and Salsa is way above Boston Market and even the Rosticeria, but it has yet to make my eyes roll into the back of my head. I'll have to come back for the fish tacos. -
Review from Robyn C.
Wheaton, IL
4/25/2007
Yes...it does exist...a nice, clean little store front locale where a vegetarian who loves Mexican food can have a spicy chile relleno and his meat-eating better half can have fall-off-the bone marinated chicken and a baked sweet potato. No texting each other from different locations required!
Chicks 'n Salsa in Glen Ellyn took the place of an incredibly bland Baja Fresh and has improved the corner lot on Baker Hill. If you like chicken, go with the marinated 1/4 or 1/2 with the sides. The sweet potato is the best, served of course a-la-oink with butter and brown sugar.
Hubby loves the rellenos and the open salsa bar. Most things are wildly inexpensive and come with your choice of flour, corn or low carb tortillas. For those of you with families (or if you don't mind leftovers) they have a great deal for $9.99 that includes really good chicken and two large sides. For the locals...watch those coupons. They often offer $5 off on a $15 order...my husband and I had leftovers on an $11 tab.
Small gripes: packed during weekday lunch hours and occasional slow service. Salsas definitely could be spicier, hence the 4 star rating. Small in the scope of things. Go on, split a chicken. -
Review from Kristen O.
Joliet, IL
7/3/2011
Went here for lunch after reading on their website that they were featured on the news. This place is amazing-very clean inside, fast service, the freshest tasting Mexican food and a salsa bar what more could you ask for?! Highly recommend for anyone looking for good Mexican food.
My boyfriend had fish tacos- very fresh and delicious, similiar to tacos off the coast. I had enchiladas with green sauce- sauce gives them a little kick and the ingredients together are amazing. -
Review from Mike P.
Glen Ellyn, IL
8/4/2010
Fish tacos the best? Not so much, and kind of a long wait for fast food.
I live in the area and I enjoy a good fish taco. 'Don't see myself coming back in the near future. -
Review from David K.
Villa Park, IL
Updated - 10/1/2010
We used to come here for the Chicken dinners, which are awesome, but I have recently been coming for the awesome Fish Tacos. Make sure to get the deep fried one, as opposed to the grilled one. The crunchy texture really makes it great to go with the cabbage. As Steve Dolinsky says, best Fish Tacos in the area!
Recently I also got a Steak and Potato burrito that comes with a very hearty sauce - a recommendation from the guy at the counter, and it was surprisingly good, better than an average big burrito with steak.
I love this place and treasure it more now that Tierra Grill is gone.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2008
This place is great. Fresh. Delicious. It is a staple in our family's weekly dinner plans. Once… Read more »
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Review from S. M.
Naperville, IL
5/25/2010
After recently having awesome soft tacos at Bien Trucha in Geneva, the young man and I craved more, so we tried Chicks 'n' Salsa this week-end. I guess i have to say...meh. Not terrible, but I was hoping for better.
The steak taco was definitely lackluster; in fact, I'll tell you right now, don't even bother. The chorizo had much more going for it flavor-wise; would be nice hangover food. The highly-touted Baja fish taco was okay, but I guess I don't get what's so earth-shattering about it. Still, the fish and chorizo were the way to go among the tacos I tried.
The "salsa bar" was weak. They gave us a couple of little cups of standard salsa when we placed our order; then we went to check out the salsa bar to the right of the counter. There's a big sign talking about tomato shortages due to bad weather in Florida (that was ages ago...). So we're down to one salsa (tomatillo), plus cilantro, lemons and limes. At least make some roasted jalapenos à la Taco Fresco or something. It really looked pathetic.
We got there just in time, before a big rush of people came in for dinner. So clearly people like this place. It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't think it was off the charts. Of course there's a lot more on the menu so I guess I just haven't met up with my dream dish as yet. Maybe when I do I'll be doing the chicken dance of joy. -
Review from bobbi n.
Brookfield, IL
6/19/2009 2 photos
Since my trip to San Diego last fall, I have been craving fish tacos like mad. And while several restaurants have attempted them, none came close to anything I had on my trip. After reading the good reviews of the fish tacos on yelp, and being in the neighborhood (thanks to the much improved iphone app!) I decided that I must try them. And they did not disappoint.
I ordered the baja tacos and my husband ordered the chicken enchiladas. Because we didn't really realize the size of our meal, we also ordered nachos. (Photos posted of all three.) Nachos were large and toppings were fresh (guac that came with it was great and the cheese actually tasted like real cheese, not some cheese-like substitute.) Baja tacos were excellent - almost exactly like what I had in San Diego. My husband thought the enchiladas were "pretty good," but I wasn't too impressed with the bite I had, although the sides that came with it were good.
One negative was that the seating area was a little dirty (staff just need to sweep up the floors and clean the tables a bit more often), although the kitchen area was immaculate, so don't think that I'm critiquing the whole operation.
Also, everything is served in disposable containers - even with disposable flatware. Considering that the flatware was wrapped in plastic, I doubt that it was biodegradable, although I could be wrong. All of the extra garbage seemed a bit unnecessary and made me feel like I should bring my own plate and fork with me next time. What made it even more ironic was the fact that right next to where you picked up the food, they have a copy of a news article with the headline mentioning how "eco-friendly" the food is. The food may be eco-friendly, but what they serve it on sure isn't.
I will definitely be back for the fish tacos though and think that if you're a fan of them, you can't go wrong here. If only they served margaritas, it would be upgraded to regular hang-out status! -
Review from alicia b.
Lombard, IL
1/14/2010
Well I went here in the summer, its close to my work and always drive past it and love the name soo damn cute and obvious why didnt I ever think of that?
My friend and I took our boy Dan for his bday becasue we heard they have fish tacos and dan luvs fishy tacos! We ordered nachos to share and each of us got a variety of tacos. We sat down and saw what we assumed were our nachos sitting on the counter but no one called us or brought them to us(btw we were the only ones in the place). So we just waited and finally the lady brought them over and they were cold and old by that time. But whatever we were hungry so we chowed down.Our tacos were all ok but nothing to great.I would probably never go back and they totally rape you it was like $35 for a couple tacos and an order of nachos.
I tell ya, I wish this place was better so we could have another lunching place -
Review from Eric R.
Wheaton, IL
7/29/2009
Chicks N' Salsa is my annual birthday dinner choice, and everyone in the family has a favorite item. I love love love the fish tacos - the closest I've found to true baja style anywhere in the midwest. My wife eats the chicken, which is deliciously marinated in fruit juices. The kids eat quesadillas and love the Mexican cake dessert.
The owner is often there cooking or working the register; she clearly works hard and takes pride in her restaurant and it feels good to support a local business owner.
The atmosphere is clean and comfortable and is a step up from fast food joints.
Overall you cannot go wrong with this place. -
Review from Dianna B.
Decatur, IL
4/19/2010
BEST FISH TACOS :) :) :) :) :)
When I came into this restaurant and saw that the Chicago Tribune said that they had the best fish taco in Chicago, I HAD to give it a try. Man, they were not kidding' around :) I ordered two grilled tilapia tacos and they were fantastic. The fish was tasty and cooked well. The veggies and condiments were super fresh and flavorful. Also, I was a big fan of the tortilla; I think it was corn and not a regular flour one which was neat and different. Overall, I really appreciated the non-greasy aspect of their food. It was kind of nice to get a fresh and light taco which left me full but not uh-oh-I-think-I-just-ate-a-gut-bomb-full :) (Maybe I will change my mind when I go back and try the fried fish tacos, but based on the other reviews I think this review will stay as is.)
Side Note: The guacamole is also super good. If you are a guac-fanatic like myself, I wouldn't pass this up. -
Review from Karl C.
7/30/2009
If you happen to stumble onto Chicks 'N Salsa when getting off the interstate, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
When you walk in, the restaurant strikes you as a very clean and vibrant Baja Fresh-looking joint. But there's more than meets the eye. It's rather spacious for being in a strip mall so it could be a good place for large groups. Although Chicks 'N Salsa is clean and quasi-Americanized, its fish tacos pass the test.
My girlfriend and I ordered a few each and it gets our stamp of approval. The taco itself was very flavorful and struck me as "healthy," with an assortment of vegetables inside.
They have a salsa station, and their spicy habanero has a good kick to it. The pico de gallo was alright as well. Their chips were freshly-cooked, flavorful and very crispy.
Whomever was behind the counter seemed to recognize that I had not been there before, so she took the time to explain the salsa station, etc. and gave me a coupon for my next visit.
Although it got very little traffic while we ate (around 5:00 PM), it took a little while to get our orders. So don't expect McDonald's-style fast food service but they were very prompt in delivering it and the staff seems very friendly. I would go again, especially for their fish tacos. -
Review from Marissa H.
Royal Oak, MI
11/6/2009
After living in the Southwest for a couple of years, I was really missing decently made fish tacos. Chicago has the worst Mexican food out of anywhere I've lived. Where is the good food? Well, holy crap. Glen Ellyn, apparently. Chicks 'N Salsa is closer to the Mexican border than I ever was.
That might be the Taco Bell logo, but honestly...it's really amazing and nothing like Taco Bell. Sometimes I just order one fish taco and then fill up about six containers of salsa to eat with the chips they give you with your meal. It's so wonderful!!! I probably will have to go eat here for lunch now because my mouth is watering away thinking about it.
I can't deny myself fish tacos when I come in here, but I have also tried the chicken, which is delicious. If you want good fish tacos, come here. SERIOUSLY. Perfect texture/flavors and everything. It's just perfect.
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