On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Clinton (Pink, Green)
Loading...
Dinner. Awesome. Too many chips.
*note to self: skip the chips, the main course is too big to waste my time with chips*
Very slow at 6pm. Perfect. Great service with plent of attention.
I do wish they had Sol. Otherwise the brew selection was solid.
With this kind of food, who cares what the place looks like? But I really dig the shiny tin can… Read more »
Please there is plenty of restaurants around this beautiful area, owner is so cheap that he charge us for the chips... I did not have cash so he charge my credit card $13.35 when I only eat $9.99 and he told me in my face that he is not going to lose money???
The worse part food did not like very much, place is dirty, employees seems sad (of course with this guy as a boss)
Skip this place and go to another place.
Fabuloso! Ooooh..Perez...tu esta muy caliente! ---- Thats suppose to say "Ooooh Perez....you're hot stuff!". I'm into this place!
On our way to an art show opening in the area, my friend and I passed this place and caught our first wiff of Perez's deliciousness. We almost stopped dead in our tracks, ditched the opening and went into Perez's, but we didn't...we patiently waited until it was our time.
The gallery gang was all ready to go to Wishbone and we were invited. What are we gonna do now!?! I'll tell you what we were going to do...we were going to Perez's. We ditched the crew and discovered the awesomeness that is Perez's. Besides, art gallery people talk slow and I don't think I would have made it for very long at Wishbone without falling asleep.
I love smokey, dark salsa and thats what they were serving. Roasted jalepenos, tomatoes and garlic, all blended up into a soupy libation of sorts. Ok...so I didn't recieve it and drink it like a libation, but I did dunk about a million chips into the stuff. The fresh pico de gallo, too. I ordered the 3 taco dinner, sans dairy, with a pork, chicken and beef taco. The chicken was sauteed with long strips of onion and green pepper and the flavor was impactive. The pork was al pastor and had so much flavor I sort of wished I had ordered all 3 that way. The beef was ground beef and looked boring, but actually was seasoned quite well. The tacos were accompanied by the usual rice and beans, and who doesn't love refried beans. I mean anthing with that much lard in it has to be good.
The service was fast, attentive and precise. There wasn't a crumble of queso or creama on my plate, which is pretty uncommon when I go out because servers always forget when I tell them that I have an allergy. That was refreshing. All in all, I am very pleased with Perez and will head back that way for sure. Good stuff!
We went here the other night on a lark, when our other plans fell through. What a gem! The staff is super friendly, and the ambience is fun -- silver reflective walls sort of like you're on the inside of a soda can. The food was very good. I had chicken enchiladas which were very good. My favorite part of my experience, however, were the Margaritas. I had a frozen Stawberry margarita, and it was delicious. Great neighborhood Mexican, which we're so happy we discovered!
I passed Perez when heading to a gallery opening at Western Exhibitions and was overcome by the delicious smell. I knew then and there I wanted to eat there, it smelled so good. After the opening we made a mad dash towards Perez and I was starving!
To start they brought us some salsa and fresh pico de gallo. The salsa was out of this world. It was dark brown, smokey and not too spicy. I had to ask what was in it. Turns out its pretty much roasted jalapenos and tomatoes. It was fantastic, we almost finished the whole bowl. We were sure there were chipotle peppers in it, but we were wrong!
My friend went with the 3 taco dinner and it looked great. I tried a bite of the pork taco. I was expecting more of a carnitas style of meat, but to my surprise it was al pastor and really delicious (better than Arturo's). My friend also has some food allergies (dairy) and Perez was able to accommodate these needs with no problems.
I had the Combo #1 which was skirt steak (with grilled onions), a chile relleno, a cheese enchilada, rice and beans and a choice of tortillas. First of all, everything was absolutely delicious. My shirt steak was tender, the chile relleno was perfectly cheesy and spicy, the enchilada was tasty, the rice was just alright (not bad) and the beans were good. OH MY! There was SO much food. I could barely finish half the meal. Everything reheated well and made a killer brunch the next day.
I also had a mango margarita, which was my mistake. I should have gone with a regular one on the rocks, but nooooo mango sounded good at the time. It was okay. The drink was blended, oops, I should have asked. I like sweet drinks, but this was too sweet. It was very strong though.
The bill was $34, which is not bad considering my margarita was $8. The food was really good, especially the salsa. I'll definitely be back. Street parking was pretty easy too.
In short: food is great, prices are good, and the atmosphere is questionable.
As mentioned in several other reviews, the chips and salsa were great. The beer is served in a frosted glass, and I ordered the steak fajitas, which were stellar. There was hardly any fat on the steak. I ordered the "spicy" fajitas, and trust me as someone who eats a lot of spicy food: these fajitas were hot. All in all, the food is fantastic. The prices aren't bad either, especially when you consider how large the portions are.
The only problem with this place is the atmosphere. The decor is OK, it's kind of a chrome or stainless steel type look. However, during my dinner tonight they had some f*$cking History Channel show about truck stops blaring the entire time we were eating. And when I say blaring, it was truly loud. It was hard to hold a conversation. And it was a Saturday night. If you want to have the TV on, put on a football game or something -- but a show about truck stops on the History Channel? WTF?
Anyway, I can't stress enough how good the food was. I will come back to Perez due to the food alone. Just don't go in there expecting a nice dining experience. Then again, you never know, if you happen to eat at Perez while their TV is turned off, you may well post a 5-star review here on Yelp.
Not sure who made the brilliant decision to model the place after a shiny meat locker, but otherwise it's a decent Mexican joint.
I loved the chips and salsas, which were quality but lacking in the spiciness department. Prices were pretty high for what they were selling. The brick-sized burritos were a relative bargain for $6.50 (no sides), but the other dinners were $10-15 on average. The meats were disappointing -- pastor was a little too charred and lacked flavor, chicken was pretty bland. Service was great though.
It's not every day you get to enjoy your Mexican comida in an old meat locker. It's also not every day you can get your coworkers to cross the highway to eat lunch. So HOORAY a double special day at Perez!
The food was pretty good, nothing exceptional, but it did the job. Friendly staff, but a bit slow. We had to request water refills several times.
And it's really not that cheap. I think I discovered this place by searching cheap loop lunch. In any event, not quite as good as my standby (La Cocina), but it did the trick. Chips and salsa were tasty and filling...nice and spicy salsa.
Also, rumor has it, they will serve you a frosty michelada if you are in need. The blend of tomato, lime, salt and beer is perfect for a slightly achy head and sour stomach from the night before...BUENO!
I had been looking forward to hitting this West Loop gem for quite some time. So, I went over with my favorite smurf friend Johan to check it out. I was not overly impressed, although he said it was an off night for Perez.
Pretty simple Mexican food here. Chips and salsa to munch on while you wait. Asked for something hotter and got another salsa that barely registered any heat. We started with some guacamole, which was just bland and over whipped. Nothing going on with it. Pretty sad. Give me some garlic, cilantro or lime-anything.
As for entrees, we had Camarones a la Diablo and Steak fajitas. The fajitas were sizzling when they hit the table and smelled great. The shrimp that I had finally brought some heat, and were even hotter the next day (male stomacco). The fajitas were good.
We really enjoyed the margaritas and had a few of the lime ones. They were strong and they have pitchers of them too.
I was expecting a bit more from Perez. The shrimp and margaritas were great. I was expecting this place to be a little cheaper, but then again we did drink a lot. I'm looking forward to going back and hopefully they have a better night.
Arrrribbbbaaa!!! I love this place! Great food, good ambiance and great margaritas, what else can I say?
Mexican food can be really bad but seems really good when you are drunk, this place however, is so very tasty any time of the day! The plates are plentiful and the margaritas make your lips numb after a few sips, which means they are well poured. You could go to the fancier joint De Cero down the street, but then your pockets would be empty. Perez has affordable prices and delicious food that makes you feel full but not heavy. You also have to love a place that keeps the pico de gallo and chips flowing the whole time you are there. They also have this delicious adobo sauce that they bring out to the table as well. The brown sauce + pico on a chip = snacking heaven!
They have a nice selection of food and I highly recommend the combination plates. 4 stars!
You know those weekends when your out-of-town friends visit and you have a fabulous night in the city, black out and wake up $200 poorer? Well Perez is where you go on night number two.
The food is good, they'll put the margaritas in a pitcher, and they let you share entrees. Even if you don't you won't break the bank.
The restaurant is in some kind of old freezer, so the walls are metallic and the tables covered in rainbow table clothes under plastic. Perez is the ideal West Loop casual night and there's always seating on a Friday or Saturday when you forget to make reservations somewhere earlier in the week.
I'm on a chicken burrito kick, and for some reason Mexica Grill down the street is closed for spring cleaning (wtf?) so I resorted to giving this place another try.
You see, friends, there's two types of burritos in the mexican pit-stop world. There's the kind that have delicious meat, and not much else (see De Pasada), and there's the kind that have meat and a bunch of other shit. Perez is the latter. Now, I usually love all the other shit that comes in a burrito, but at Perez it didn't really do much for the burrito itself. The chicken was a little dry and the whole thing, though gigantic and only $7, did little for me in terms of spice and flavor. Glad I got extra salsa for it to make it interesting.
Still, definitely a step up from the rank shrimps I had earlier this year.
Bleh. Ok, maybe a 2.5 stars. But, meh.
First of all, I was sitting beneath the TV which was BLARING…
Read more »
Five stars for the Perez Chilaquiles...easily the best thing on the menu. Chicken mole is also good. Shrimp in diablo sauce has a wierd aftertaste. Minus 1 star for only splitting the bill 2 ways, even at lunch...I know processing credit cards cost money, but on a $15/person tab, I would think you could rationalize the cost in the name of customer satisfaction, especially at lunch. Also, don't expect to recieve any phone calls when inside...
Because I both work and live in the area, I have had the opportunity to dine in and order delivery from Perez. Overall, the food is satisfactory - I always enjoy a more authentic dining experience.
The first time I dined in I experienced their shrimp fajitas. I thought that for the price the value was decent, although I could have used more shrimp and less peppers.
Since then I have primarily ordered lunch and after trying several plates I believe I have found the ultimate dish. The shrimp salad is hands down one of the simplest, freshest plates of food I have ever had. It is always consistently yummy. It is very light, so may not be the best option for meat lovers or empty stomachs, but the mix of lettuce, tomatoes, diced onions, fresh shrimp and citrus is wonderful. My suggestion - skip the dressing and ask for a side of salsa.
The only reason for the 3 stars versus 4 is because their margaritas are not as delicious as I feel a true Mexican restaurant should delivery. The sour mix is a little too sugary for my taste.
Sometimes we don't want to sit down and spend $50-60 on dinner, and a lot of the restaurants in our neighborhood are at that price point. Perez is fine when you don't want fast food and want to sit but without the fuss. We'll definitely head back when we just want some casual, no frills Mexican. Would I drive out of my way to go to Perez? No, but considering that I can walk from my place, it totally works for us.
You seat yourself and service was a little uncoordinated, but it was fine. Everything came out pretty quickly and we didn't have any issues.
I had a burrito and thought it was well priced and HUGE. I could barely finish half of it. My margarita tasted fine but was on the weak side. I can't remember what the rest of our group had - as I had MORE than enough to focus on for my dish, but everyone enjoyed their meals. The chips were warm and fresh and the salsas were tasty.
Solid Mexican food that serves all the usual gringo food - burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, and combinations of them, also steak dinners, seafood, and breakfast too. No need to dress up for this place either. But it does hit the spot; it's like hangover food w/o the hangover. Really filling if you finish the entire thing and have to go back to work about 2 lbs heavier stuffed with meat and refried beans. About $10-11 for a lunch entree.
This place is in a meat locker? Are you kidding me? FYI, I've been here a handful of times and never noticed. Clearly my powers of perception are top notch.
Decent Mexican you *don't* have to hike over to Pilsen or Logan Square for. In the heart of the West Loop, Perez is a mini cab ride from the Financial District and I recommend walking back, because you'll need it after a lunch here.
My office took me here on my very first day of work - it's definitely a favorite for "slummin". We've also ordered in on days when we just couldn't make it out; they gave us enough guacamole for a village with delivery.
If there's a way to achieve orgasm and increase your HDL cholesterol all at once, QUESO FUNDIDO is definitely it. Chorizo, cheese, a bit of cilantro and peppers...amazing. Grease and fat galore. Perez also totes a great, well-made, well-seasoned tamale. And they've got the cheapest, tasty and giant taco salads in the city.
Caveat: I've had better albondigas, tacos and enchiladas, but then again, I am from LA, and used to have Hispanic cooks. (I swear it's not as OC/Real Housewives as it sounds!) Their burritos are pretty basic, but they're huge, bigger than Chipotle. Margaritas here are hit or miss. Sometimes I love mine, and sometimes I don't.
The spice factor's pretty decent; they have these peppers that look oh-so-innocuous until you have one and steam billows out your ears. No exaggeration: the only guy in our office who eats the peppers is actually Mexican-born and bred. His verdict: not bad. My sad Asian verdict: I wish their cups of water were larger...
Service - eh. Perez is not a secret by any means, and the busier they run, the slower your meal goes. Not a big deal when you're awaiting to return to your cubicle and afternoon food coma. Fairly traditional in the laidback décor. Overall, it's cheap (less than $10 a plate), and definitely on the tastier side of Mexican in the Midwest. Understandably that doesn't say much, but it's worth a trip.
Not sure what the fiesta is all about with the other reviews. Me, not so much.
As mentioned in other reviews, its a bit shiny inside decor-wise, tablecloths in colors Aztec's never indended and the handmade chairs (branches!) were actually more uncomfortable than the chairs at de cero. OK, they're wider, but I felt like Danny Glover at the end of Lethal Weapon.
Anywho, this is about the food, right? The margarita was way to lemony-sweet. Less mix, more 'quila, please. Speaking of lemony, it did smell a bit disinfectanty when we first walked in too.. mmm.
I got the chicken enchiladas. I was expecting shredded chicken or something similar, but it had rather large chunks, so that was a little lumpy. Chips were cold, salsa so-so.
one of my favorite mexican spots in chicago. Love the combination #1. great decor, reasonable prices, clean bathrooms.. but they could put more alcohol in the margaritas, or drop the price a little. Highly suggested.
Perez has all of the things that I look for in a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. No frills, cheap food, cheap Pacifico, good salsa, and corn tortillas as the default taco shell. The only thing I did not investigate is if they have ginormous margaritas. But my guess is that they do.
And, all of this is in a creepy meat locker where you can be sure the mafia used to store dead bodies.
Our server was attentive, helped us determine which burritos on the menu were the biggest, and delivered everything quickly. I had the three taco dinner (8.95) with steak. I put some of the salsa on top of the tacos and they were great. The beans and rice were good, and the servings were huge.
I don't know if this is a place that I would ever go to for dinner, but for a quick sit-down lunch it is perfect!
They also serve breakfast until 2pm, so this will be clutch for Friday morning hangovers.
First let me say BRING BACK MEXICA GRILL!! The burritos were much better on flavor & cost about $3.00 less.
Something to note about Perez, they arbitrarily change the prices. I paid $7.75 for a burrito yesterday with absolutely no flavor, stuffed with rice & beans; instead of the steak which I ordered.
Caveat emptor!
Good news is that "El Famous" should be opening a place at Madison & Peoria in the next few weeks. I will be glad to finally have a new alternative.
The service was absolutely horrendous. Horrendous. Since I was excited to go to Yats, I had my bottles of wine in hand. Unfortunatley, Yats is now closed. I chose this place because it was nice and close to Yats. Boy, that was a mistake. Avoid this place!
Great food, great fun. The burritos are generous. Guac is great. Nachos too.
Strong margarita pitchers!
Tons of fun- dig eating in a retired meat locker!
We order lunch from here all the time at work, and it's delicious. I've never dined in so cant speak for the interior, but they never mess up our order, deliver on time, and we typically have an order of 15-20. Their veggie burrito w/avocado is awesome; it comes w/a smoky salsa and is HUGE. Great guac and light, not too greasy chips. For the quantity you get, I think its very reasonable.
Of course, I would choose to eat at a Mexican place that shares my same surname. It's named Perez - so SATISFACTION guaranteed, baby!
And with the ratings it received and its location in West Loop, I expected it to be good. But I didn't just like it, I LOVED it.
I swear, it tasted like my Grandma and/or Mom was all up cookin in their kitchen. I ordered the grilled bistec and grilled onions with frijoles covered in asadero cheese and rice. We ordered a side of guacamole to go with the chips and chipotle salsa -- which was pretty good, not too lumpy, not too pureed with just the right mix of tomatoes and onions.
Even better, is this place even feels like a Mexican restaurant. The servers are all smiling and friendly viejitas who know minimal English. The decor here is the antithesis of the sexy moody De Cero across the street, and is divey at best. Everyone is right about the aluminum - like it used to be a 50s diner or something. But I think that in itself gives it more street cred, and more charm.
Two entrees with a side of guacamole and two Tecates was $33. Dirt cheap, and a steal.
My only complaint would be tiny (yet freshly made and delicious) flour tortilla they give you and the fact that the kitchen closes at 9 PM on Thursdays. But even though it was 9:15, they still accommodated us, and with a smile. Extra points for that.
Perez is a W Randolph St institution. Long before the west loop was as hot it is now, Perez was there serving up their good Mexican fare... I can remember when I worked in the area 6 or 7 years ago going there frequently simply because there were only other 1-2 choices in the 5 or so blocks near my work. Now the thought of 3 choices in that 'hood is almost laughable. I still go here once in awhile and it hasn't changed much over the years.
The tacos here are good standard taqueria tacos. They have a brown homemade salsa that's really unique and very good.
Perez is an odd duck on the trend-o-rama strip of Randolph just west of the highway. It's cheap, unpretentious and (wonder of wonders) actual Mexicans eat there.
Don't get me wrong, I like, e.g., De Cero even though it's expensive, pretentious and inauthentic, because their food is good. It's just that the food at Perez is good too, and for half the price. I've sampled a number of their tacos, and I've never encountered any of the spotty quality Issues that seem to strike otherwise wonderful neighborhood taquerias.
I wish this place was open on Sundays.
It's certainly not fancy and I'm not sure how to describe the exterior, but it's not like I go here to impress anyone. I go because I like their consistency. The food is standard Mexican food without a tons of grease and a little bland - which is how I like it. I go for the great guacamole, and my boyfriend loves the shrimp soup there. The house margaritas are tasty. The place is cheap and convenient, but it can be hard to find parking sometimes. The waitstaff is friendly, and it pays to be a regular and tip well.
FYI, this is not a good place to take someone you just started dating. This is a good place to go after you've settled into the relationship.
Portions so big you have to unbutton your pants.
Mexican food is like sex, when it's great it's great. When it's bad it's still alright.
Great service, great prices, great food. The waitresses are really nice. They offer complimentary chips with two variations of salsa (spicy, non-spicy). I usually order the chicken quesadilla and the portions are huge! The atmosphere is nice and there is plenty of tables. I have never had to wait for a seat here!
Love this spot. A local independently owned restaurant along a strip of fancier spots but it totally holds its own. Solid real mexican cuisine and a nice laid back atmosphere inside.
The staff is attentive and you get a lot on your plate. The chips look to be home made too and the salsas are excellent with a good amount of kick which I love.
Didn't try and of the margaritas since they just aren't my drink, but the menu bragged about them.
I've eaten dinner here twice, and had the same experience both times: WRETCHED service with only mediocre food. I don't know if the wait staff is just really TIRED by dinner time or what, but they can't be bothered to do anything.
Other points:
A lot of reviews mention the guac -- it's fine, but definitely nothing to celebrate (go to Feast instead).
The building is interesting, but the atmosphere not particularly pleasant. The tables are curiously small -- they have these giant curved chairs that, when placed side-by-side, don't FIT behind the table so you're halfway out in the aisle.
The food is similar in quality to El Cid. Here's the difference: El Cid has A) a much better staff, B) a much better bar selection, and C) is at least OPEN LATE. Mediocre Mexican food is acceptable at midnight when options are slim. Since Perez closes at 10, it doesn't even have THAT going for it.
Go somewhere else!
My bf and I try to go to perez once a month because it's convenient, good and affordable relative to other places on Randolph.
It is definitely a CASUAL restaurant ... not a destination if your goal is to impress. What I love most about the place are the beans -- they are just delicious!!!!!! Perfectly cooked and seasoned and without an ounce of lard (they servers have assured me!). I also love their pico de gallo and salsa, and the little salad of lettuce, tomato and avocado that's served with every meal.
As for the entrees, the chicken items are just not that great. I've had the fajitas and enchiladas and I do agree that they're so-so. The beef dishes are much better. If you can't deal with the oil, lard, salt and crowds at nuevo leon, i recommend perez.
Total dive spot with great Mexican food. I love this place and used to eat here for lunch about once per week.
It used to be so incredibly cheap, I felt like I was robbing the place. But I was there last year and our check for two was around $30.
Go there for lunch, it's quirky and the salsa is really yummy!
Perez is a wonderfully pleasant little establishment in the west loop, with great food and huge portions...You almost have to unbutton your pants after every meal.
The service is fast and extremely helpful. Everyone always has a smile and is eager to make your day a little better.
My only complaint is that just as in Mexico, sodas and other beverages are still served in single portions. With portions that large, you almost have to have free refills. But to no avail, there is no fountain!
I still highly recommend this place, and it's great for work lunches as well!
Decent authethentic Mexican food for Chicago (sure beats for instance, Chipotle). The basket of chips & salsa is dangerously good. I've had both the burrito and enchiladas...and i've found them both to be good but not the BEST I've ever had. Their horchata is also really good!
This place has some of the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. Great flavors, spicy, not too saucy or greasy. And the margaritas are delicious too. I'll be back again and again.
For the price and target patrons, this place is awesome. We walked by the night before and saw a huge line and packed dining area and was curious about all the commotion. We went in for lunch the next day and was suprisingly satisfied with the gigantuan amounts of food for the price. Not only that, their food is way authentic mexican (so don't expect Tex-Mex at all). Service is great and attentive and food is big enough (at least for me) to last me 2 meals.
We got their Chile con queso, which came with 6 tortillas that you can use to wrap it and it was sooo good. I got a chicken burrito that gave Austin's Freebirds Monster burrito a run for their money. The lettuce and tomatoes in the burrito were crisp and fresh, the sour cream was fresh, the chicken was moist and plenty, and the beans were actually light and creamy.
My husband got the huevos con chorizo breakfast menu item and that was a LOT of chorizo. It was just one hearty tasty lunch that didn't break the bank. Love it for the low key atmosphere, low prices, and large amounts of food.
We used to get Perez to go for office lunches, but since we moved closer to this location - we apparently forgot about it! I'll put our lunch order together today for Perez, even though yesterday was Burrito Monday.
Their restaurant is always packed, and parking over there is tough - but the to-go orders are always right and plenty of the beloved salsa!
4.5 stars
Excellent Mexican place. Good eats at good prices. My go-to Mexican place in the west loop. I also like how the inside is very different from other places. Half hole-in-the-wall, half metallic vault.
You can't go wrong with steak quesidillas or taco salad. Even the enchilada is pretty good. Their guac is definitely 5 stars.
Free Taco with Combo Order!
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
BYOB optional until 12/30/2009
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Grocery
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Since 1999, things have changed in the West Loop.…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Working this side of the river during the…
Hey, you don't have to be upscale to be five…
Yes, Chipotle is a great chain. But Mexican is SO…
West Loop, that is. This neighborhood has been my…
i'm a recluse and work two full time jobs. when…
