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Mi Tierra Cocina Mexicana
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
1039 W Belmont Ave(between Kenmore Ave & Seminary Ave)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 929-7955
- Limit 1 certificate(s) per table.
- Not valid Fridays and Saturdays.
- $10 for $20 promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. For another 4 years after that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid. Dine-in only. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Gratuity not included; please tip on full value. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Must use in a single visit. Only 1 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. Up to 1 can be purchased as gifts for others. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.
- Reg. Price $20
- Discount 50%
- Savings $10
- Nearest Transit:
-
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
Wellington (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Diversey (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 12 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
183 reviews for Mi Tierra Cocina Mexicana
Review Highlights
"Great chips and salsa and my fav cheese enchiladas were..."
(in 37 reviews)
"And I can't forget the margaritas."
(in 67 reviews)
"Easily accessible near CTA's Red Line."
(in 6 reviews)
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183 reviews in English
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Review from Kristine L.
Chicago, IL
10/25/2011
Margarita Mondays(Sometimes Fridays) have become a little tradition for me and a couple lady friends of mine. We have no idea why we picked Mi Tierra as the spot to host our ridiculousness, but there's a reason we keep coming back!
Ok just to get it out of the way, the food is fine. It does its job (get into tummy now!) but isn't anything too crazy special, but it doesn't pretend to be. I do love the queso fundido, the quesadilla appetizer is plenty for a little meal for me. Oh, and the faucet situation in the lovely sinks in the women's restroom are problematic, haha. Now for the fun stuff. Onward!
The margaritas are great! A pitcher is like $29 or something like that AND comes with 4 shots. RIDIC. (Also Ridic: the website plays some fun tunes! Seriously, lol http://www.mitierramex...). My Little Latina gfs and i love our margs and can hold our own in the booze dept, and we really like the margarita here. Plus, it's a super great deal! not even 30 bucks for a pitcher AND 4 shots. Woweewowza.
The other reason we dig it here, and why it goes from "A-OK" to "Yay I'm a fan" in my book, is the service. Every time we have come, we are greeted promptly and chips, salsa, water, and plates arrive immediately. To be fair, we pretty much only come on Monday at 9pm but we've come on the occasional friday at 9 as well and it's the same deal. We often get Mario or Yolanda as our servers and they are AWESOME. They are super nice and really cool people. Also, the restaurant closes sort of early on Monday, and we show up sorta late (we work til kinda later in the evening), and we are often the last table there. We try not to be jerks about holding them up of course, as I'm sure the staff totally wants to go home, but no one has ever rushed us or shooed us out. I'm sure they are cussing us out quietly in their heads, but as of now, no one has told us to GTFO or been anything but nice to us (and man do we get LOUD up in there sometimes, lol). It's not a fancy or particularly "cool" place, but we've managed to make it a semi-regular little spot in our silly lives.
So cheers for Mi Tierra, my Margarita Mondays haven of ridiculous! -
Review from Adam M.
12/22/2011
I want to start off by saying Mi Terra has by far the best chips and water service ever. They are constantly refilling both which I can't rave enough about.
The food itself is pretty good and the portions are good sized. I really like their chili relleno and their burritos were good too. Nothing stands out about this place as amazing.
I see all the reviews on here raving about the margaritas so I will need to try one next time and hopefully be able to bump up my rating to 4 stars. I did notice that there is a Yelp $10 for $20 deal on here so I will be using that next time for sure! -
Review from Kristen D.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
They certainly are quick and attentive with the chip and drink refills.
There are a million items to choose from on the menu, which makes it hard to decide on one thing. However, I feel like you're going to get any combination of meat, tortilla (one way or another), beans, salsa, and cheese. The numerous items lacking much interpretation and description make it difficult for an already-indesicive person to choose what to eat (or anyone, for that matter).
Food is normal, nothing to write home about. I was seriously impressed with the food's resiliency once reheated in the microwave, though. Somehow, the day-old, reheated food would receive a better rating from me than the fresh food did. -
Review from Moira S.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2012
Look I am the first person to admit that Mi Tierra is average food-wise but I still love the place. The prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is festive and the drinks are pretty damn good. The service is unfailingly attentive. Brunch and lunch prices are incredibly good and the food is aplenty. I can't think of a time I have been there that I did not walk out satisfied.
Not all restaurants have to be culinary marvels. They can be just an enjoyable place to go with satisfying food and a great environment and that is how I view Mi Tierra. -
Review from Samara S.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2012
The Mi Terras on 26th and Kedzie sucks. The food is nasty. We ordered taco's but they were dried out and flavorless. The drinks were okay, but expensive. In addition, and the most upsetting part was that the waitress continued to ask us to move tables to accomodate what appeared to be regulars. Mind you, we had to carry out own plates and drinks form table to table. After the third move, we ended up in the corner and very upset. The waitress never came back to the table and she was very rude. I will never go back to this restaurant. This is a No, No!!!! I do not recommend this restaurant for anyone who is not Spanish speaking because they treat you very badly and disrespectful. In addition, the people look at you as if you are a foreigner. In addition, it was way too loud.
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Review from Jessica K.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2011
If you love Mexican food, don't go here. Because you'll spend a lot of time wondering why you didn't just keep walking and look for something else.
I will say that I love the tiles in this place. They're beautiful. But I really don't want to pay just to look at them.
The chips which were brought to our table were really soggy. As in, we touched them, they felt like someone poured water on them about thirty minutes prior, and we decided not to eat them because that's weird and gross.
Our waitress really looked like she didn't want to be there, and a few times I kind of wanted to pull her aside and say "yeah, we want to go, too...let's run away!" but she already looked like she wanted nothing to with us as it was.
Too many options on a menu makes me think the restaurant is just adding one thing or taking one thing away in order to give you so many options! Don't you love so many options!? I know it's a Mexican restaurant, so the menus are usually ginormous to begin with...so...can't really fault them for that?
The food was bland. I had a burrito. It was dry and sad. I didn't know what to do to make it happy.
This was by far the most depressing place I've been in a long time. -
Review from Mironda R.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is super solid! I would have given it 5 stars but I am drawn to White Queso (tex-mex) not fundido.
I walked in and was immediately seated. They brought out chips and salsa which was verry tasty with a bit of a kick!
I opted for the appetizer quesadillas because they came with guac and sour cream and a side of rice.. and a Sangria. All of it was great. The quesadillas caught me by surprise. Super fresh and plentiful and the guac (albeit it could use some spice) was good!
I'd definitely be back maybe for margaritas and appetizers. The entrees are a bit on the pricey side buut I can get over that from time to time especially since I can walk there and walk home with ease. -
Review from cisco r.
Chicago, IL
9/1/2011
Bad Experience. That's what comes to mind every time I think of this place now.
I was a customer of this restaurant in the 80's for late chow after drinking at Avalon or Berlin or even The Octagon. Some time during the 90's when the building was redone for the second time I just felt it was over priced for standard Mexican food. The is NOTHING cuisine about this place.
Well, to make this as brief as possible, i was working with a troupe of Acrobats from Montreal. The 7 Fingers of the Hand. You have seen them on T.V. in a show called TRACES now touring the U.S.. Really great people and nice to work with, so I wanted to find a good Mexican Restaurant we could drink and eat at close to the Briar St. Theater as we were all given tickets to go see Blue Man Group.
It all started when I tried to book a reservation for 20 people. They seemed unqualified to handle the request and it took 2 phone calls to talk to a manager. I booked a weeknight about 6pm ( it was tues or thurs) and they told me it would be ready.
We started arriving about 5:45pm a group of us and the restaurant was virtually empty and nothing had been set up. Great so I made an inquiry if we could group some people together and have 3 checks instead of 1 large check. They flatly refused and said not possible with a big group and I told him they way tables were set up there doesn't seem to be any difference. This is when I realized they had no idea that I had booked a party.
It just went down hill from there the margaritas are not fresh, they use mango or strawberry syrup. My friend drinks malt scotch regularly and he knows his liquor, he claimed what he got was not single malt as he requested and it tasted watered down. The food was passable but not great in any way.
What I have read in other reviews is accurate. They kept pushing the check and people would show up later and we would order additional food or drinks and they took it back 3 times to recalculate. Why not let your customers finish the meal. There was maybe 10 other people in this restaurant that seats at least 150. Service was o.k. but again not very pleasant they seemed burdened every time we ordered something.
Finally they gave me the check and had added 20% gratuity without advising me in the reservation call or when we finally got there of this policy. It added $168 to our check without prior consent. What ever, we paid without question but you know that some people tip 30-40% and some tip 15-20% that's just the way people are, they may have fared better if they let us tip.
We didn't let this place spoil our good time, even after we asked they turn on the waterfall for a little while, but was told not on the week days. (this was one of the reasons I picked this place). All in all not a stellar performance as ambassadors to our great city filled with tons of great Mexican Cuisine.
Given another chance to plan a party for friends from out of town, will NEVER recommend this place. -
Review from Adriane P.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 6/19/2011
You can't throw a stone without hitting a Mexican restaurant so why the hickory heck do I keep getting played?
I've returned two times both Saturday nights after nine pm. Last night will probably be the last time.
The host tried to seat us at someone elses table with plates and glasses on it. My partner kinda smiled and asked if there was anything else available. They split up 2 four tops in the center of the room (this is important!) while the table guests from where they originally tried to seat us returned from the john, I'm sure delighted to find their half eaten food gone.
So we waited. And waited. And waited. It was by no means slammed and many servers and expeditors walked past often. Panic was starting to set in. I started to complain and worry to which my partner exclaimed, "You chose this place! I didn't even want to go here!" Started bickering if we should go and where. See this is truly bad service, when it becomes a home wrecker! At this point, over a half an hour passed without being even acknowledged by our server and we were literally STANDING and LEAVING when she nonchalantly approached and asked if we wanted a drink. We decided to stay since we invested so much time in this and ordered a Corona, Marg, and Chicken Fajitas.
A table that was sat after us, the other half they split up when they sat us, was already slurping Margs and eating their entrees!!!! And we haven't even gotten our drinks yet!
After a long wait we get our drinks. FYI Beer and Margs are better served NOT in glasses hot out of the dishwasher and beer really shouldn't be drank out of the same stout tumbler you use for your waters.
The food came. It was ok. By now we were so put off were over it. She dropped the check then inquired about it and hovered a lot willing us to leave. I get it, it's Saturday. But if you want to turn tables don't wait over a half an hour to acknowledge them.
A note: I mentioned the long wait. She said "it's my managers fault, he didn't tell me I had a table."1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/17/2009
The food was phenomenal. I liked the chicken mole enchilada and beef taco. The atmosphere, decor,… Read more »
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Review from Katie R.
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
CHIPS AND MARGARITAS.
they are very quick with chip refills. and margarita refills, for that matter. i've only been once, but it was a good time for 5pm on a saturday. -
Review from Kendrick W.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Fast and attentive service. The food was fine, nothing special, butnothing bad to report. Drinks are solid.
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Review from Susan F.
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Scene: Cinco de Mayo, exactly 6 pm, Mi Tierra Cocina
Seated almost immediately, I grabbed my cheap margarita from the bar and headed on over to the other side, placed by the stream of water. Oh, how romantic.
Their menu is huge, people weren't lyin'! I found that a lot of their menu options were $1-$2 cheaper than so many other big Mexican restaurants around the area. Not to mention that their ritas are cheaper AND you can ask for a shot of tequila for an extra charge. How do they KNOW what I want?
I loved their chips and salsa. Their chips weren't greasy at all and they almost tasted like they had whole wheat in them... The salsa was spicy too. They weren't stingy about bringing more, either. Gaw bless.
I got the Chicken Verde, pretty cheap, under $9 I believe. The bf got the chicken burrito in a whole wheat wrap, another option!!
I believe this place might become my new Mexican staple when I don't feel like trekkin down to Mayan Palce.Listed in: MexiCAN and WILL eat all of…
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Review from Racquel D.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2011
Tried this place for the first time last night. It was pretty good and the waitstaff were all pretty attentive. I'm glad I stumbled onto this place because it reminds me of the Mexican restaurants back in Houston - the place, the look, the music, just everything. And there are a lot of choices! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'm cheap and the prices were a little high for me. Other than that, it was a good experience.
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Review from Sara G.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2011
Absolutely love this restaurant! We eat Mi Tierra two or three times a month, and always leave full and satisfied!
My boyfriend is a huge fan of the shrimp enchiladas, and I love their tacos.
Great drinks, delicious food, and wonderful service! -
Review from John L.
Willowbrook, IL
10/6/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
We were there late so the place was pretty quiet. The drinks were good and the food was pretty tasty. The inside could use a bit of a face lift though. Good food & nice people but not a place to impress anybody.
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Review from Joey M.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2010
After much deliberation and a healthy sampling of what Chicago has to offer, Mi Tierra may just be my favorite Mexican Restaurant in the city. A bold proclamation, I know. Let me attempt to justify.
As a precursor, I should note that my idea of a great Mexican restaurant is not measured by authenticity nor aesthetic nor even service (which is generally good), but primarily on the ratio of cost to food quality. In this regard, Mi Tierra excels.
How much I enjoy any given Mexican Restaurant usually lives and dies by the guacamole. With rare exception, this is a standard opener for me and whomever my compatriot may be. The guac here has a wonderful and simple blend of avocados, tomatoes and spices, without just enough lime juice that you can forget it's there rather than having it assault your taste buds. I usually request they omit the bed of lettuce it sits on, but that's your call. If Guacamole isn't your thing, the free salsa they put out is consistently delicious and fresh, with a bit of a kick.
As for entrees, I've yet to be disappointed by their offerings. The Carne Asada Suiza (translation: steak + cheese) is an excellent dish to share. The steak is always moist and tender with excellent seasoning. If I'm feeling particularly ravenous or just hungry for variety (mmm... food puns), I'll go for the Triple Enchaladas with mole, tomatillo and ranchero sauce (respectively). Cheese and meat and tortillas, oh my!
All the standards are here as well and all of them are delicious. And cheap! Did I mention cheap? Because it's pretty cheap. Hands down, the best Mexican Restaurant on Belmont between Sheffield and Racine. Probably. -
Review from Jess F.
Chicago, IL
4/2/2011
So I went to this place unintentionally. My birthday was on a Monday this year and I really wanted to get Mexican food. Me and some friends decided on Twisted Lizard (I've never been there but heard GREAT reviews). Low and behold they aren't open on Mondays.
Soooooo we went to Mi Tierra instead. And they definitely didn't dissapoint. There food was delicious and the service was great.
The food:
They have fresh chips with salsa which was pretty good but we ordered guacamole too which was f'n great. I had the Quesadillas Supremas (Their menu is huuugee) And they were out of this world. Cheesy and delicious. (the rice wasn't anything special but still pretty good). I also tried my friends Taco Salad that she got and that was equally as good as my food if not better. Since it was my birthday they brought me a sombrero with my name on it and fried ice cream (also delicious) but I found out later that my friends had to pay for it, it wasn't free.
Overall great experience! Adorable decorations, delicious food, attentive staff. Definitely recommend this place. -
Review from Kathryn W.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2011
Ewwww. I have never left feeling worse than after eating at this place. No thanks, never again
There are plenty of other cheap adn easy Mexican places to eat that wont leave you feeling horrible. -
Review from tokill a.
11/22/2010
We were craving Mexican, decided to try this place while visiting Chicago.
Upon Entering, they were very accommodating, refilled our Salsa/Chips, took our Drink Orders, Food Orders...then it went off the Rails.
After our Entrées arrived - we were more or less left to fend for ourselves. No one bothered to ask us how our food was, if we needed anything else, etc.
The Food itself, was kinda shitty. I've had better Mexican out of an Old El Paso Box. Overpriced as well - two Entrées, with Tax, Tip and two Drinks = about $50.
I felt like I was experiencing Prison Sex. -
Review from Scott M.
Chicago, IL
9/17/2010
We came for the margaritas. We stayed for the food.
The interior reminds of this Mexican place we ate at in Montreal with the fake rocks, the waterfalls, etc. We arrived at both places with one thing on our minds: Margaritas. This place makes may different kinds, but we've always stuck with the plain ol' sour mix n' lime Margarita. On this last visit, we had guests so we ordered pitchers, an incredible value, for a little over $20 you get at least 6 glasses that pack a punch!
Oh yes, and the food, from what we can remember, is good too. They are not afraid to refill your tortilla and salsa bowls, none of this "charging extra for refills" nonsense. After awhile, I knew I needed to get them away from me so I could stop eating them and save some room for the main attraction, er, course.
Normally, I order the Mi Tierra Combination here, I love a good Mole sauce and tamales. This time I went for something different. a Parrillada, or the Mexican answer to the Pu-pu Platter. Here's what that consisted of: A mini hot grill with Carne Asada, pork chops, beef short ribs, chorizo & chop chicken breast w/ poblano pepper. There were also disappointingly little portions of cheese and tortilla shells that came along with it. I honestly don't remember the ribs, and do remember the price being higher than it stated on their website, but that's the economy.
I think I've always sold this place short on the food because I've liked to drink here, if that makes any sense. True, it is not a high art cuisine like LaFinca or Caliente, but comfort food has it's place! And Mi Tierra does an excellent job at it. -
Review from Brian W.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2011
For a place that has an "abandoned Chi Chi's" feel inside, Mi Tierra set me up with low expectations. But I think their food and service are fine and I'm surprised to read about all the bad experiences. Their generous brunch menu is insanely cheap and tasty (yay chicken flautas with fixings for under $4!), and the margaritas I've had were fine (though nothing to write home about). Mi Tierra is a convenient place to go on a weekend morning because it's not crowded but not awkwardly empty either.
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Review from RayAnn B.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2011
I take my out of town visitors here because it's the best Mexican food in the neighborhood. Service is very attentive as well, you never run out of complimentary chips/salsa, and your drink is never less than half full. The decor is a little hokey, and they go ALL OUT for every Holiday, but it's part of the charm. It's also family friendly as well as couple friendly.
Clean, friendly, and delicious. Best Mexican food around. -
Review from Nicki W.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2010
I'm alright with this place. The decor is cute, warm and inviting. The frozen mango margarita is the bomb, so try it out. I was disappointed to find out that their Watermelon Margarita is not made fresh so that was a shame.
The chips and salsa were very tasty and replenished very often. The service was alright and the food was on par. I just stuck to ground beef soft shell tacos with beans and rice. I will be back! -
Review from Laura M.
Chicago, IL
7/15/2010
Came here tonight with the bf (or whatever he is these days) based on a stellar recommendation from a Mexican coworker. I figured I'd check this place out, since well, if anyone knows good Mexican, it should be him. Man, was I disappointed.
The chips, that weren't that good, came in these tiny little bowls accompanied by two different kinds of salsa. The bf liked the hotter of the two; I liked the sweeter, chock full of onions version. We ordered a large guacamole, which was pretty good, except that it was plopped onto a pile of shredded lettuce. Why did I feel like I was getting ripped off?
The waitstaff would not leave us alone, constantly getting us new salsas, before half of it was gone. They also kept on filling my water after every drink I took. I appreciate that they're attentive, and granted they were slow, but come on. It's hard to have a conversation when you feel like all these guys are lurking...
My regular margarita on the rocks was good, basic, but good. The bfs peach (peach?) was suuuuper sweet. I felt like I was drinking dessert.
The food came in a reasonable amount of time, perhaps a bit slow for Mexican. Not a big deal. The bf ordered a steak burrito, and I ordered the combination poblano: steak burrito and chile relleno.
I need to interrupt here and say a few words about steak, or should I say "steak", burritos: if you're going to advertise STEAK, then put steak in it! If i wanted pot roast in my burrito, I would go to my mothers for dinner and bring some tortillas. WTF. And this isn't the first time in Chicago in the last month this has happened to me. Roast isn't steak, at least in my book. Gross.
Needless to say, neither one of us really liked the burritos. Mine was filled with just meat, and my man got it with beans and cheese. To my disappointment, the stuffed pepper was topped with some kind of chunky sauce jam packed with onions. Kind of took away from the pepper, but I don't think the breading was very good. Not sure though, since it was drowned in the mystery sauce.
When the bf was done eating, he did the normal drop-the-napkin-on-the-plate move and shoved his plate to the end of the table. The waitstaff continued to refill our water and take away the cups of salsa, but didn't take away his plate. I asked to wrap my food (which I'm beginning to wonder why; as I'm sure it'll go uneaten and my fridge will start to smell) and more people appeared to clear our table. Three times did someone try to take the leftover guac-I felt like we were surrounded by vultures.
For $50, I wasn't impressed. And now I have nasty Mexican bubbling in my stomach and even more fermenting in my fridge. I'm honestly surprised at all the good reviews here. -
Review from Aise W.
5/11/2010 3 photos
The food was good. Not mind-blowing, but seriously. . . not every frickin place you eat at is supposed to be. It's great to have some A-OK places to dot your culinary repertoire, yes? Indeed.
So what was for dinner? We got the parrilladas which is "A mini hot grill with Carne Asada, pork chops, beef short ribs, chorizo & chop chicken breast w/ poblano pepper." [side note]Took that directly from the site and am kinda trippin on the fact that I had to correct spelling errors in it, lol. This might help you get a feel for your experience here. Great effort, but can lack attention to details. [/side note]
The parrilladas looked yummy when it arrived, but. . . . . . did not look like the picture. It never does, right? Whatever they marinated/cooked the meats in made them quite delicious. Now, I'm a sausage fan and I felt the texture of the chorizo was too mushy; as if it wasn't cooked through. From what I could tell, it was, just had the texture of wasn't. The carne asada was well seasoned and juicy, the short ribs were great. The chicken was cool, but I would have preferred strips over it being chopped. What I did not like, was the chopped veggies in the middle. Chunks or strips would have been easier to transfer to your plate and better to eat in a tortilla. Ya see? Great effort, but lack of attention to details.
Ok, so check out the pic I have of the parrilladas. You see how much meat that is? Don't just nod, go look for real. It was shared between two people. Do you feel 4 tortillas is enough to eat that with, for two people? Do you? Well answer me, already. I'll answer for you; No! We originally got 4 tortillas with the meal. We asked for more, and do you know they charged us for it? Dude, I can buy a pack of tortillas at the store for like $.99. They get em wholesale so it's even cheaper for them! They charged $.75 for just 3 more tortillas. Yes, it's just $.75, but it's the princibalities of the whole thing! 4 tortillas is not enough to begin with anyway. Then charging extra for less than the amount of tortillas you initially gave? I know Keyser Soze wouldn't have been so forgiving as us. Mmmmn hmmmn.
Oh, right! Gotta tell you bout the margaritas. Potent, even with just well tequila. They will keep you from getting all Keyser Soze on a fool and forget your minor grievances. They complemented the meal really well, and didn't take up precious belly space from the meat. Great drink qualities all around. I want to try them with some better quality tequila to really get my margarita and food on.
So, I like the meat for the most part and am loving the margaritas. This, shall be the new casual dining spot to dot my culinary repertoire. It has been spoken.Listed in: The Latin or Latin-ish Food…
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Review from Melba T.
Chicago, IL
8/14/2011
Ground beef tacos? Puhlease.
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Review from Carri C.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2011
This place is terrible-worst Mexican food I've had in Chicago. I have been to this restaurant about 4 times in the past 5 or so years. The first 3 times were not good. After my 4th visit, believe me, I'll never return. Let's put it this way: my husband and I ate a couple bites of our food, it was disgusting-meat had a strange flavor and was chewy like bubblegum, told no less than 3 staff members who completely blew us off (didn't offer to get us anything else, etc.), paid about $50 for an inedible meal, and even left full drinks (which I have never done before in my life). This Dinner here absoutely ruined my evening-we actually had to pay for another dinner at a different restaurant since we could not eat here after paying more than $15 per entree. Pathetic.
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Review from Kim J.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2010
I love this place. Every time I am in Chicago I have a hard time trying new Mexican restaurants because I love Mi Tierra so much. The Queso Fundido is a must get appetizer. It is amazing with the tortillas they give you. I also love the chille rellenos. The margaritas on the rocks with salt are amazing and be sure to ask for a extra shot of tequila! It will know your socks off.
The decor is super cute and reminds me of a restaurant I ate at in Cozumel.
The only downfall is that is so filling I have a hard time going out after wards. I am too full!!!! :) -
Review from Kar M.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2010
Margaritas: good, flowing
Salsa: great, flavorful
Appetizer platter: wonderful
Coconut prawn appetizer: hot-damn-delicious
Vegetarian tamales: for lil old me? You shouldn't have!*
*You absolutely should have, and other restaurants should follow suit.
Highly recommended from the girl who had sworn off Chicago Mexican food! -
Review from Jerry M.
Chicago, IL
3/11/2008
Unlimited and over and ever flowing chips and salsa here!
Are you picky about your guacamole? It's made right when you order it, so if you're a freak that doesn't like onions and tomatoes, it can be made without if you so desire.
I don't find the food here particularly remarkable. It's not terrible, but it's not great in my opinion. I always come here because I have a friend who loves it here.
I will give kudos to the fact that they're flexible - they allow substitutions in orders without extra charge or surly looks, which seems to be the norm in most Mexican joints that I frequent in the city.
And it's great for families or those with kids - it's loud and busy, so you can bring your active rug rat and you'll get no evil stares from those snooty childless diners who think they're getting their dinner ruined by junior musical performance of utensil to table.
Great for groups - they have 2 dining rooms and lots of tables.
While I don't find the food here terribly remarkable, I gotta give them 4 stars because the service is attentive without being overbearing and they give you tons of chips and salsa, as well as being happy to make substitutions with a smile. -
Review from Kristin C.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2007
After walking by this place many times, I decided to hit it up Friday night before yet another Brew and View adventure. Located on Belmont, it's hard to ignore Mi Tierra in all its pepto bismal-esque glory.
The colors may shock ya, but I found the decor to be the best part. It was pretty bumpin' here on Friday but our party of four had no problem finding a table. There are one bajillion people waiting tables here so I was surprised that the service was slow. I started it off with a Mango Margarita which I found to be so-so. Even my second "regular" rita was nothing special.
As for the food, very disappointing. I am a spicy gal who adds Tabasco and pepper to pretty much everything. It is so frustrating when I pump myself up for Mexican cuisine and the food seriously lacks flavor. A fan of combo plates (it's like spinning Bob Barker's trusty wheel. Will I get a dollar or 15 cents?) I ordered the Mexican Combo. I think it was suppose to be a steak taco, a chicken enchilada and a cheese quesedilla. What it REALLY was:
random tortillas, some meat, and cheese gobs surrounded by sporadic fits of lettuce. After picking at it for a while, I found myself confused and deeply saddened.
I don't think I will be back here anytime soon. I did like the digs, but the food was not-so-hot. On my quest for some tasty Mexican fare, I think I will just have to Spin. That. Wheel.Listed in: Mex-i-CAN
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Review from Sixto M.
Chicago, IL
10/6/2008
I must say that I was really shocked to find such bad reviews on here. But I recently had dinner there, so I think I can clear some things up. First off, the food is authentic. It actually surprised me how authentic it was because in my experience, you gotta go to Pilsen for good mexican food, but I guess I was wrong! Second, the service is not bad, groups or otherwise. My waiter was very attentive, as he was for the group of 10-12 people.
Now, about the margaritas: they are good! For the price you pay, you get a great drink. They have a lot of different flavors, and are one of the only places I know that advertises that they sell blue margaritas! Yes, they don't have lime margaritas, but its no big deal.
Here's some other interesting information: free chips and salsa! I love going to Mexican places that do this because it reminds me of home. The weird colors: in mexican culture people paint their houses with loud and bright colors to attract and defend against certain things. Some colors attract luck, money, good health, etc and others defend against ghosts, demons, misfortune, etc. And the inside is very typical of a mexican home. Again, all contributing to the very authentic feel of Mi Tierra.
But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.Listed in: My New 'Hood: Lakeview!, Mexican Restaurants
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Review from Megan B.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2009
Next time I go back to Mi Tierra, I must remember to only order rice and refried beans. Both are excellent - perhaps my favorite the city. The rice is tender with just the right amount of flavor (no overpowering sauce), and the beans are smooth with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top. It is the perfect combo to go with the free chips and salsa, which are too shabby either.
However, I've not been impressed with any entrees yet. Order a "cheese" anything, and the flavor will likely be relegated to one type of cheese and a tortilla - boring The chicken tamale I also recently ordered was bland and looked unappetizing; I actually prefer the frozen ones from the grocery store.
So while I will go back to Mi Tierra, I'm sticking to the sides!
And the little water filled moat running through the middle of the restaurant cracks me up. -
Review from Damian C.
3/19/2007 1 Check-in Here
Just looking at the facade of the building should make you want to step inside. The colors take hold and lure you in against your will. The smiling waitstaff whisk you off to a table overlooking a glowing blue river. Pretty soon you, too, will find yourself lost in a magical Mexican cuisine experience.
Ok.... maybe not "magical", but I will say that I have enjoyed this place each time (3) that I have eaten here. While I will not claim it to be the best Mexican food I have ever had, the menu quality, prices (!!!!), atmosphere, and attentive waitstaff make this place a great deal.
The restaurant-style runny salsa is great - I am NOT a fan of chunky salsa. The entrees themselves are large-portioned and pretty low-priced. My chicken chalupa meal runs at about 6$, and I am usually stuffed when I finish.. and I am a pretty big eater. The margaritas are pretty good, and the attendants make sure that your water glass will not go below half-full (or half-empty...either or). The food usually comes out very quickly as well, so you aren't stuck waiting around forever.
It's a great place for cheap, good Mexican and one heck of a color scheme. -
Review from Ashley V.
8/21/2008
They serve Lemon margaritas. NO lime margaritas. What the crap is that? That tidbit alone got them to the one star.
I've also eaten there once or twice for a birthday gathering and it's just freaking bad. Not to mention they are a pain in the butt about dealing with groups.
So many better places to go in the neighborhood. Don't waste your time here.Listed in: Margarita Madness
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Review from Gina H.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2010
Oh how I miss this place....tear.
Back when I lived a couple of blocks away I used to frequent Mi Tierra quite frequently....things I love about this place:
Big Portions - perfect for a Sunday night after a long day of nursing a hangover....delish Mexican food (and a lot of it) sure hits the spot.
Fajitas, Tacos, a chicken kabob dish - all fantastic.
Cheap drinks
The weird 'river' that runs through the two sides of the restaurant - I'm a sucker for quirky things like that.
The fact that you feel like you're on the ride 'it's a small world' due to the décor.
If you're looking for Mexican food that is a step up from your typical 2am burrito joint, but isn't expensive like more frou frou places like Adobo Grill, try this place out. -
Review from Tony S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/11/2007
I am not sure exactly why this place is so great... maybe because it's looks like you are in a mexican themed amusement park, or that it always seems like the kind of place you would go for your 9th birthday to whack a pinata.
Whatever the reason the food is relatively inexpensive and good, and the margarita's tasty.
Hooray! -
Review from Oscar the Death Cat B.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2007
Here is what Mi Tierra has going for it - cheap food & drink, fairly spacious dining area, quick & reasonably friendly service. Food is acceptable at best - not bad but not worth going out of your way for. I'm surprised to see such mixed reviews of the drinks and guac - when I've visited the margaritas have been good & strong but the guacamole just sucked. The rice & beans that come with my meal are usually pretty good though.
In summary - not great Mexican, but good enough for a quick & filling meal before a show at the Vic. -
Review from Nellie T.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2006
I've gone here 4 times now. I have given it several chances. Their margaritas are great, but the same cannot be said about their food. Everything appears to have the same combination: meat, iceberg lettuce, and tomatoes. Food is bland. My chips were stale this last trip too.
The place is a little loud, but perfect for a weekend night prior to going out in the area or after shopping on Belmont. They also have a lot of sitting so it's perfect for large groups. I've never had to wait here. The prices are very reasonable as well. Everything ranged from 5.99 to 15.99 about. -
Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2008
Super strong Margaritas. So two stars for that. Even though they are not the best ones I've had, they do the trick.
As for the food..lacking in flavor, pretty boring actually. I had the Tamal dinner. The rice was so bland I did not eat it. The tamales were just okay.
The server made me feel as if he couldnt be bothered..and there was no one else in the joint..what else did he have to do?
There are better places to go than this.Listed in: Ew.
