On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Oak Park (Blue)
Loading...
I probably wouldn't go here so much except that it's convenient and the food, while not the best, is good and the prices are fair. The location in Berwyn does have better food and atmosphere.
I like the mariachi band that's often there, the oversize Diego Rivera paintings, and the complimentary chips and pickled carrots and garlic. I usually order the chicken fajita's, which are brought to the table in skillet with tortilla's, beans, rice, and guac on the side. Every meal comes with chicken noodle soup too. I find that I always have to add salt to the guacamole.
There's only street parking and it's not easy to find. There's a teeny bar tucked in the back corner, but it's so cramped it's just silly.
Lunch Buffet...11-2... Wow... Just Wow.
Mon-Wed...6.95 Thurs-Fri... 7.50
Came here on a Friday night, encouraged by how it always seems crowded, and by the fact that the reviews in here were pretty positive. I couldn't have been more disappointed. It's always a bad sign when your food arrives about 3 minutes after you order it. The margarita my wife got was really good -- hence the two stars instead of one. But the chicken was dry, the mole sauce was bland, and the beans were salty. There are so many better, cheaper Mexican restaurants, I can't see a reason for going here.
Biggest Margaritas in town, wow! Great place for a cocktail. Do rec this place to friends.
-Mike
I went here for cinco de mayo because I thought there was going to be a celebration. However, it was just a regular day with some decorations on the walls. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. I've been to the Lalos by UIC and they party hard at that location so I thought they might do the same at this location. Guess not!
Love this place. We go at least once a month. We've dined in, ordered out, and catered from Lalos in Berwyn and we've always been happy with the food. Like a previous poster has said, the service is hit or miss. Sometimes we'll have an outstanding server who is extremely friendly and gets everything correctly. Other times we'll wait a while for our drinks or they'll forget something we've ordered (i.e. extra tortillas or side of sour cream). But if you speak up and stop one of the other servers or bus boys they are always glad to help. When we get the food, that makes up for the service. The fajitas are great and so is the 3 taco dinner. Great Chicken enchiladas with the green sauce. You get chicken soup and also the carrots and jalapeños. If you can't decide what to order, they have a mix and match 3 items or 4 items. The only reason I didn't give Lalos in Berwyn 5 stars is because on weekend nights there is always a long wait, sometimes up to an hour. On the weekends they have a live band in the back and a mariachi band playing, so caution if you are looking for a place to have a quiet dinner - Lalos is not it. Also you have to have a margarita when you're there, they're delish. A definite must try.
For hot plate mexican, this is the only place that satisfies. It is cheap and consistent. They have a lunch buffet that is so yummy. I am not a buffet kind of person, but this one is good. The food quality is the same as the menu items, plus they have chilaquiles. The mixed drinks are stiff. If you want something fancy or gourmet, then this isn't the place for you.
The margaritas are great and the food is average, but I do come here every once in awhile. It's a good place to get very generic Mexican food. I usually stick with something traditional like tacos or enchiladas. I recommend the fried ice cream...delicioso.
I kept hearing how wondewrful this place was & so tried it at lunchtime today. My waitress was cheerful, politely took my order, & then everything went downhill. I ordered chicken fajitas with a side salad. The wait staff dissapeared & my glass sat empty for a good 10 minutes. My meal was served nice & hot...no guacamole or sour cream or even salsa. Now I've eaten at numerous Mexican Restaurants & usually order either the fajitas or enchilladas & every time they serve it with a small portion of sour cream & guacamole. I asked for a small portion of both & she complied. So now I'm really ready for my lunch. The chicken looked more like chicken parts & it was overcooked & dry. Never did get my salad. Had to wait quite awhile to get my bill as well. I won't be going back there again. What a bummer.
Service can be hit or miss, sometimes the hostess looks like she could be a high school junior. The waiters/waitresses are usually purdy decent friendly folks.
Good portions, nothing fancy but good hearty food. Margaritas could stun an Ox. The guava margarita is very tasty, as is the traditional kind. This is a review of the Oak Park ave. location. They can be slammed on weekends, without a good entryway/lobby for people waiting, so it can be like a packed CTA train car at rush hour while you wait for your table.
lalos is a solid spot..i have eaten at the one in berwyn, in cicero, in river north (which closed) and in lincoln park...but i think the best one might be the oak park location....i think the portions are the biggest here and the food is pretty good..there isnt much of the famous mariachi guys goin on here..but there is a lot of margaritas going around...the steak tacos are good..the chips and salsa are a 4 star for me here...they have some true mexican dishes here and they even serve the chicken soup...the chicken soup is clutch for me in rating mexican restaurants..i want that chicken soup..
im not into flavored margaritas but i hear that they are good here...try the skirt steak, the taco dinner, the enchiladas, or the huevos rancheros if you get there for breakfast.
i will be tryin out some sort of seafood on friday..and i will update this review.
I agree that there is so much hype around Lalo's, but I love Mexican food so I was up for it. Well I was extremely disappointed about the nearly hour wait we had on a Friday night (this place really needs to find a new, larger, location.)
After the wait we finally got seated and ordered. I liked the food, but I wasn't nearly as impressed with the 'ambiance' as everyone else seems to be. I wish I would have tried the guacamole (it looked delicious as the table next to us). But the whole time I was getting a draft from being too close to the door and couldn't hear my boyfriend over the live music.
Hate to say it but I'd go to Fuego Loco over Lalo's next time.
It's okay. The best part about this place is the guy in the tiny booth playing the music. If you didn't see him, you'd think it was the radio.
I'd really want to give this three stars if it weren't for all the hype around Lalo's being so good, when in fact, it is not.
This place used to be GREAT, now it is just so-so, and with a ton of Mexican restaurants to choose from in the area, I would go elsewhere.
I live two blocks from this Lalos and walk there once every couple of months. I love it though it is a bit on the small side and the tables are quite close together. There is an awesome weekday lunch buffet (check the site for exact days/times) and every meal comes with the chicken soup and hot pickled veggies.
You can still order Tacos de Loma even though it's not on the menu. It is delicious here. The prices have gone up over the years we have been going, but what hasn't!
Also a Shout Out to Maria the manager!
Being a huge supporter of the chicken taco movement, it is in my job duties to verify the chicken tacos at all local establishments. Being hooked on Uncle Julio's made it difficult to get around to Lalo's until a few days before moving out of Chicago.
Based on those nasty thick, bland ass chips and boquet of pickled vegetables I wasn't expecting much. I couldn't fuck with the veggies, although they looked interesting. I knew that nobody ate them and they just got shuffled from table to table. Sitting there soaking up all the coughs and conversation (mini-germaphobic)
But the chickens were ok. Not dark meat either. But I am skeptical of any Mexican joint that serves white rice. Its a blatant violation of the Code of Ethic for Mexican Joints that I've established in my head.
I agree with Pat G - this place was great when I lived close by in the late 90's, now it has faded. But, I still come back here for the fajitas and green salsa and chicken soup. And, the sopapillas are the best I have had in the area.
The pricing is still reasonable and if you pick a weeknight and go early, you won't be smashed up against the door waiting for a seat. The kid factor is a downside - this location is just too small to handle the massive amounts of brats running around and screaming.
Great margaritas, ok food. I mean, the food is good, but I've had better for cheaper. We've never had to wait or anything--we've always gone later at night and on weekdays, so it's usually bordering on empty.
Plusses for the chips and salsa, relish and soup with your meals though.
OK service, pretty good food. Not enough menu items.
My mother and I come here frequently whenever were in the mood for Mexican food and don't want to travel to far. I always order their chicken enchilada's suiza. Them come out pretty good. We never had a problem here. The mango margarita is good as well. All entrees come with a decent Chicken soup.
I don't think there is anything bad here (or at least from my 100's of experiences here). They always bring out homemade chips and a chunky salsa. Thats the only pretty basic thing there. Then they bring out this AMAZING chicken soup with potatoes, carrots, and everything. (My #1 fave soup! I always get a chicken taco. I've tried the enchiladas too, and thats great. I would definately come here with the family. Try it!
I have dined at almost all of the Lalo's and I like this one best. When I'm feeling fruity, the mango margaritas are great. I love their fajitas, I usually get a steak and chicken combination. The botana combinada is another favorite of mine, nachos, quesadillas, flautas and tamales. I don't like ham in my quesadillas, so they happily substituted chicken, which was all white meat. Once in awhile the tamales can be a little dry. When I do save room for dessert I chose the flan that comes with the side of sauce--yummy.
This is the best location of all the Lalos IMHO. It's a nice small place with a great mix of people. Get a table by the window and it's a nice little date place or just a place to hang with good people.
The service is excellent. the majority of the staff are long time family members and workers at the place. Take the time to get to know them and they will treat you right. The food is prepared fast and you never have to wait around.
The food is good. not great but very good. I have never had anything to blow you away but never had anything bad either. The reason to come here is the margarita' and the chips and salsa. Fresh baked chips and the best salsa ever with just a slight kick.
The great thing about this place is you will have the avg joe dinning next to an executive. Good food, great drinks, great atmophere, what more could you want?
I can't believe anyone would complain about waiting on a friday night. If you want to get in right away on the weekend go early or go late. Otherwise you can usually get in real quik any other day
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the food at Lalo's. That said, there's nothing outstanding about the food either. If you're looking for standard, decent Mexican at a reasonable price, this is the place. If you're looking to be wowed by creative dishes, not so much. But hey, grab a margarita and enjoy it, and it's not too shabby.
Lalos has one of the best Mexican breakfasts in the area. The great thing about it is that they serve it all day, so you can sleep in and not miss your morning brunch. Also they margaritas are gigantic and resonably priced. I recommend the Bloody Maria, it is a bloody mary but with tequilla instead of vodka. If you love tequilla, you will love this.
This place has been around for a really long time, that says something too.
Lalo's is the default famiy restaurant in our neighborhood. It is very child friendly, so if you want to escape the rugrats there, go after 9:00 p.m. The kids menu comes with crayons, all meals come with this interesting chicken soup (it contains potatoes, which is unusual but good) and a plate of pickled spicy carrots and other veggies. Between these and the good chips and salsa, we're usually full by the time the entrees come. But try to save room, because the dinners are quite good. You won't get Rick-Bayless-type "snooty" Mexican, just good, predictable food.
The ranchero sauce on the enchiladas was a little too spicy... and my wife wasn't thrilled with her shrimp fajitas... but I think this place has potential. The hot carrots were a pleasant surprise... the chips and salsa was excellent, and the service friendly. A return visit is totally warranted.
The food is extremely mediocre, but once you've had one of the enormous margaritas, you don't care. The wait staff is exceptionally nice.
The food this resturant is really good. But it's more than the food. It has a dimmed lighting that gives it a romantic feel. And on the weekends they have a live band playing. The walls are decorated with pictures from different Mexican artists like Diego Rivera. When you add up all the elements, you get a great evening of food and ambience.
Ok. I am a loyal Lalo's lover. When I was little, my p's used to take me to the one over on Harlem in Berwyn. Therefore, I am a little less enthusiastic about this location as I am about the aforementioned Lalo's. The other place is bigger, more lively, and they have better service. In any case, they still serve the same food and the same margs at the Oak Park location, so I have to round up from 3.5 stars to 4. Lalo's has decreased in the food quality over the years, which is why it will never get 5 stars from me. They used to be a hell of a lot more authentic than they are now. I can only guess with all the locations they have now, they make all their food at a commissary and ship it out as restaurants need it. However, the margs have stayed the same since before I could even drink, so Lalo's is still Lalo's as far as I'm concerned. I always get the combination dinner with chicken, but I have had practically everything on the menu. Flavorful, large and quickly served portions make this place a destination at least a few times a year. When paired with consistently great margarita's, it's definitely worth the visit. Thanks.
nice fun place to go and eat. food is mediocre but after a margarita or two it will be the best you've had. seriously the margaritas are very big, very strong, and very good. Don't plan on driving home.
The chicken soup with a little red salsa tossed in is great.
I love coming to lalos. The atmosphere is lively, the music on Friday and Saturday evenings is fun, and the Margaritas are strong. I often stop by for a carry out order of chicken soup, marinated vegetables, and salsa. They even throw in some limes and rice. The buffet is only okay however. The selection is rather large, but the food itself is buffet quality.
My daughter, grandson and I went here for an early afternoon lunch. I really liked the decor, with azulejo tiles and Mexican artwork. My grandson, who spent his summer at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum summer day camp recognized one of the pictures on the wall of the legend of the two volcanoes near Mexico City that look like a man leaning over a reclining woman (Iztacchuatl and Popocatpetl; you can read the legend here-http://compactURL.com/...) as depicting a play he participated in at camp. The staff were all dressed very neatly in white shirts (with tie for the men) and black skirt/slacks and were very friendly and courteous. There were crayons and a coloring sheet for my grandson and our waitress acknowledged him which was nice. We come from a Mexican family so we're pretty particular about the authenticity of our Mexican food. Lalo's seems to stay close to what is REALLY Mexican food. My daughter ordered the Lomo in Chile de Arbol which, though she's very used to eating spicy Mexican food, was a bit too "hot" for her (but then chile de arbol IS one of the hottest chiles you can find, so that should have been expected). My grandson and I decided to have the buffet lunch which was extensive and varied, quite nice, all served in large elegant silver heated buffet platters. For our beverage we all had orchatas (a rice/cinnamon-flavored drink) which were not watery, as some can be, sweet and refreshing. All in all, it was a pleasant, tasty lunch.
We go for breakfast on Saturdays. My husband always gets the huevos ahogados, which is like an omelet filled with shredded flank steak, served in a bowl, smothered in spicy ranchero sauce. It's served with rice, beans and tortillas. I share with him, spreading the beans on a warm tortilla and put some of the huevos on top with sauce. Delish. Also, we ask for a separate plate of jalapenos, jicama and garlic, to eat with the tortilla chips that are brought to the table when you first sit down. We also are served a cup of the chicken soup each. We ask for a large marg, on the rocks, to be put in a pitcher so we can share and they always comply. They only have a breakfast menu on the w/e's and you need to ask for the menu.
Very reasonable Authentic mexican food. I had the omo de res en chile de arbol (chopped ribeye steak simmered in chile sauce), it was really really good. A little on the spicey side so be prepared.
Margarita Wednesdays
Forest Park, IL
Valentine's Day
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Oak Park, IL
Category: Mexican
Oak Park, IL
Category: Hot Dogs
Oak Park, IL
Category: Italian
Glenview, IL
Category: Mexican
Berwyn, IL
Category: Mexican
You finally asked the girl in accounting for a…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
