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Categories: Mexican, Latin American
Neighborhood: Norwood ParkMon-Thu. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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My friend found them here on Yelp and went to give them a try. The decor was very nice, someone here complained about them having been a diner once- well, I give them even more kudos for having managed to turn it around so well.
We went when there weren't many other people there so I don't know how the service is when it's busy, but they were very nice. First off, the spicier salsa for the chips was really good! We got a Rellenito, a fried banana with beans inside, as an app. and it was very tasty. My friend got a meat dish whose name I don't remember but she enjoyed. I ordered the Carmen Chile Relleno, which was like regular stuffed peppers but had a white sauce on it.
When the dishes came they seemed small but the portions ended up being just perfect. The plates were also pretty nifty. I enjoyed the first couple bites of my dish alot, it had such a unique flavor, but by the second chile I just couldn't finish it. As it got cold, the sauce just wasn't as appetizing for some reason. I won't blame that on Tanzitaro though, but on my odd taste buds maybe.
They seemed to have a great dessert selection. We choose the Kahluha Vanilla Flan. It was a good texture, not too hard or too flimsy for a flan. I would really like to go back and try the others!
This restaurant's attempt at upscale Guatemalan, only comes up short of a fourth star because of issues I have with consistency. The only thing that I can say's been consistent is the heat index of the salsa - it usually ends up burning the sh** out of my mouth.
It's been great and it's been meh. Nice decor.
AMAZING Food..AMAZING Service..AMAZING Owners. My husband and I go there at least 4 times a month!
Their breakfast is Delish as well!
I've only been here a few times, always left satasfied. They start you off with some good chips and salsa's. Their appertizers are pretty good too the stuffed mushrooms are amazing though. The food over all is good a little pricey but worth it once in a while. Happy that a place finaly stayed longer then 3 months at this location for the past 8 something? years. 4 stars because I maybe need to be more impressed or try something diffrent. Overall it is a good resturaunt and the owner is a very nice man. Maybe I'm turned away a bit because of the high prices though. Will give it more tries and hopefully be able to update to 5 stars.
This is a great restaurant and a treasure for an otherwise desolate neighborhood as far as dining goes. The food is excellent and the owner is a rarity of personal involvement, always seeking to make the customer happy and the service top notch.
I have been going here since it opened. Over the last year or so, it has begun to change into a decidedly more upscale restaurant. The prices have increased and the menu has evolved into finer fare. I am saddened to see the prices increase while some of the portions seem small, but also happy to see some more exotic meals on the menu that are well worth the higher charge.
On my last visit, I was pretty upset when I ordered a simple flautas dinner at what I would consider a more than adequate price ($9) and left hungry. I adjusted my review and stated I wouldn't be back. Well, the owner himself tracked down my phone number and called me directly to address my concerns. That's impressive. I'm nobody, just a guy who has come in once in a while since he opened.
The fact is that this place is changing. If it transforms into a trendy and well known place like some of the restaurants farther into the city, than that would be a great thing for Norwood Park. Just please, if someone is paying top dollar for a basic meal like flautas, tacos, or whatnot, make sure they get a decent portion. Either that or lessen the price.
I still highly recommend this place. The food is very, very good.
If you haven't discovered Tanzitaro you don't know what you are missing! This gem of a place will make you want to come back again and again!
Juan will make you feel welcomed and greet you like you're one of the family! His staff is incredible, attentive and they ensure you have everything you need to make this an enjoyable dining experience.
The food is spectacular. If you have the opportunity to have the ribs make sure you indulge! Soooo tender, soooo flavorful and soooo delicious! The sauce is fantastic, and Juan's recipe is really special! Just the right amount of "bite" to make your tastebuds dance!
I agree with the other Yelpers that the prices have increased dramatically from the opening three years ago. However, this isn't your typical Mexican restaurant. 'Ole!
The food is fresh, hot and low sodium, which is a plus for those of us trying to watch our blood pressure. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure you are never without a drink! The appetizers are excellent, different and nothing you would expect! Excellent place for lunch or dinner...
Great food and such nice people that work there!!
Well this is my "accidental" review. We had never heard of or seen this place before, but..... well allow me to digress a bit .... I woke up this morning to find that a water main had ruptured at the other end of our block. When the doorbell rang and the water department was there to inform us that the water would be shut off for the next 5 hours or so, to us it meant one thing ... road trip and lunch.
We decided to do some geocaching and get lunch at Super Dog. Well with it being Labor Day and beautiful out, Super Dog was not only jammed beyond capacity, but they actually had people out there directing traffic. When the guy told us there were 5 people ahead of us for spots, we left and went in search of food, and we found Tanzitaro!!!!
The full name of the place is Tanzitaro Grille Latino. When we pulled up, we weren't sure exactly what we were in for, but regardless it would be an adventure. The cuisine here is Mexican and Guatemalan.
Chris ordered the Carne a la Tamiquena. The steak was absolutely delicious. It was tender and perfectly seasoned. They serve an enchilada de mole with it. I thought it was pretty good, but Christopher is not big on mole, so I liked it better than he did. I had a beef stew type dish from the Guatemalan side of the menu. It was more akin to pot roast, but had a nice flavor as well. We got a few appetizers. Of course had to try their guacamole. It was decent. They served it with some marinated carrots that were really yum. We also tried a Guatemalan appetizer called Rellenitos which was fried plantains stuffed with black beans. This one surprised me because it was sweet. The ball of fried banana and black bean mix was sprinkled over with sugar. It was a very pleasant treat and something we both enjoyed though it seemed more like a dessert than an appetizer.
On the down side, the margarita I ordered was terrible. Christopher was shocked when I left most of it, because I do love my margaritas!!
The restaurant is very clean and attractive. It is obvious somebody put money into the place. Although the restaurant itself is handicapped accessible, the bathrooms are very small and I think a wheelchair would have a very difficult time negotiating in there. The service was very good and all in all we enjoyed ourselves. We will come back again. When we left they gave us a coupon for 2 lunches for $10, an incentive I intend to take advantage of in the near future.
Very happy to have a good Mexican restaurant in the area!
Cleanliness: Spotless, very clean
Service: Excellent
Price: Fair
Food: Read below
Good stuff:
Atmosphere was great, authentic Mexican decor tastefully done. The owner was walking around and greeted everyone, the staff amazing, attentive and timely.
Guac, salsa and chips excellent. Orchata was great. Rice and Refried Beans amazing! Beef Taco, Beef Tostada, Chicken Enchilada and Cheese Quesadilla very good!
Areas of Improvement:
The chairs when you sit down first thing you do is kick your legs back under the chair, the back of your ankle hits this wooden bar and boy does it hurt.
Asked for the Taco to be loaded with cheese, sour cream did not arrive that way.
Asked for the mole sauce on the side, did not arrive that way.
The medium well Carne Asada was very well done and difficult to eat. Charred!
Overall this is a very good place with good food and a great attentive staff you should stop by and give it a try.
A very non-Mexican Latino restaurant. Even though they have excellent versions of typ mex fare the other stuff was awesome - plantain in a sweet mole sauce, the most unusual shrimp and guac dish presentatiob, and a Chix tamale that was not the typ pasty bland one we are used to elsewhere. And then the ribs. Mexican ribs. Just the right size, not globs of fat, with at light slightly sweet slightly spicy sauce that was heavenly. Among my top three ribs ever and possibly no. 1. great night out. Also the staff is great - reall ycommitted to you having a great time and a great meal.
You know what I hate about moving? (Aside from packing, unpacking, cleaning like a fiend, dealing with power hungry utility and cable company pee-ons, and having to be nice to new people who live near me.). I hate finding new restaurants. It should be fun, but it's unnerving...especially if you moved to Jefferson Park, like me. There just aren't that many restaurants close by, and Tanzitaro is my 3rd attempt at Latin food in the area.
We went on a Friday night, and waited about 5 min. for a table. In that time, I watched 3 people pick up orders for carryout and each one was clearly a regular, greeted by the owner, and treated wonderfully. I was getting a little too excited.
I have no complaints about the food: decent portions, great prices, quality ingredients, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to try new dishes on return visits.
Service was OUTSTANDING. Really, the best I've had anywhere, in ages. I chatted with the owner for a few minutes, and I wasn't even drunk...super friendly guy.
That brings me to my one complaint...I wasn't drunk. I love me some margaritas, and I was really hoping to get my drink on. I ordered an enormous marg, and three sips in gave it to my husband who will drink anything. Um, I'm not one to give away drinks. Ever. It was soooo syrupy, and I'm a bit of a tequila snob, and it was just not good.
All that said, we'll be back! Cross one off the "find new restaurants" list.
Yay! A great restaurant in the vast wasteland that is Norwood Park! Oh I am so glad I finally came here - do you know how hard it is dining out in this neighborhood?
Anyway, a big THANK YOU to the new owners, because whoever owned this building before had no idea what they were doing and ran a horribly sketchy joint. Now it is lovely and warm, with rustic chairs and cool art on the walls. Plus everyone is super nice and attentive who works there - they really appreciate your business and dont hesitate to let you know.
The chips they give you when you sit down come with two salsas, a green, mild one (I assume tomatillos) and a spicier, creamy red one. Both are terrific.
Andy M ordered an appetizer of steak & chorizo quesadillas, which were HUGE and could have easily been an entree for someone. The filling was very flavourful and they did not go easy on the meat, thats for sure.
I ordered two tacos, a pork and a chorizo. These were as good as any I had on the Southside and really cheap too. $2 each? Cant beat it. I also ordered something called a Rellenitos, which was a little ball of fried banana, stuffed with a black bean sauce. It was very sweet, which was unexpected, but also very delicious.
Entrees tend to be on the high side ($15-$20) but you are definitely getting your money's worth. That plus the awesome service has clinched it for me, I will definitely be back!
Really great food here! We had an appetizer that was mushrooms stuffed with chorizo and covered in melted cheese. To die for! I ordered the Carne a la Mexicana, standard off the menu, and it was nice and spicy. There were alot of other beef options (rib eye, skirt steak) but this one really hit the spot. No wine list to order a bottle from (just 4 types of house), and I heard the margaritas were "different' here, so we went with the sangria which was really yummy - not too sweet at all. Will definitely be back.
They have Mexican Coca-Cola! That alone would be enough for me but their food is delicious to boot.
Queso fundido - chorizo and cheese deliciousness. Pork tamale cooked in a banana leaf - incredibly soft, almost fluffy, and delicious. Enchilada mole - delicious.
Hubby got the chorizo scrambled eggs from the breakfast menu. This is perfect for the chorizo lovers out there. Want some egg with your chorizo?
Great great food!! this place has been changed 3 xs in the last 10 years, and I think the new owners finally got it with this restaurant! The only con was our server. It was my mom and me and we order daiquiris and Chile's rellenos which were both amazing, but he seemed to take forever to greet us, get our food out, and bring the check. We felt like we were there forever. I don't know if he was just over sat or if he really was slacking that night. But either way I will be back, the servings were huge. I brought half my food home, and i was stuffed. My sister said, "why didn't you eat anything, this is a whole meal in here." I had to explain to her that the servings were just that big! Very authentic Guatemalan and Mexican cuisine. Delicious!
I think this is a pretty good restaurant. The mushroom app that everyone has suggested was just OK, nothing special wasn't bad or anything but it wasn't fabulous by any means. However, the entrees were all *very good* and fresh tasting - skirt steak was very tender, enchiladas were really flavorful and the restaurant is very clean. But the ambiance is not my cup of tea. It looks like it used to be an iHop it's got a diner feel to it. It's perfect for families and causal dinners if you happen to be in the area. The staff was very friendly and attentive. They have Mexican Coke in bottles which is cool.
This place was a shocking surpise. It has been three different restaurants in the last few years so I was leery to go there. A friend and I went on a whim and we were thrilled. We each had a margarita which was reasonably priced and reasonably strong. We each had two tacos. me steak she chicken and chorizo and all were fabulous. The steak tacos were probably the best ones Ive ever had. The salsas that they give you complimentary were amazing and different. Also a marinated carrot salad was on our plates and it was AWESOME!The service was a little slow but it was early and there was only one server and it was a little busy. I have been trying to tell everyone I know about this place because I am afraid it wont get enough business and close because people have been dissappointed by the previous owners! GO GO GO GO!
Service is great, so is the food. They really work hard and do a nice job. It's worth a try. Hope you like it.
Finally a place in the Jefferson Park Area that is worth Yelping about. It definitely has come a long way since the shack el ranchito. Since the new management has came in they have totally remodeled the place and put beautiful artwork and pictures on the wall. The ambiance was great! The service was exceptional and the food was amazing. I had the Carne asada which was tender and flavorful. I was also ELATED to hear that they have a liquor license. I treated myself to a hump day treat, and a treat it was indeed. They also Incorporated Guatemalan food and it gives me room to explore. The homemade hot sauces were spicy and fantastic and the chips were fresh. When my server brought me my food, the plate was on a modern square plate and had beautiful garnishes. The saying is true, "you eat with your eyes first".
Great for families and groups. I highly suggest this place for some wonderful Mexican/Guatemalan food.
First off - Service: 4 stars. I don't think I've ever gotten a handshake when I've first entered a restaurant. No fewer than 3 people thanked us for coming and ensured we had a good table....as good as it could get, considering it was the last table in the dining room. The place was hopping at 5:45 on a Saturday night.
Food: 4 stars. Mexican with Guatamalan options. Started with the guac (which was really good and not on the menu I found online). Salsas (2) and chips were both great - neither of them your "typical" red salsa, which was fine with me. The hubby had the Guatamalan chile rellenos and it was delish. I was boring and got the enchiladas verdes - but goooood sauce, lovely presentation.
Drinks: 2.5 stars. The margarita is the ONLY place that brought this place really down. LOVE my margaritas and love the option to "upscale" them to a better tequila or Contreau, etc. but no mention of margaritas or options on the menu, the waitress just mentions it at the get-go. I even asked for options and she said - "strawberry, lime..." Hmmm...and when I got it - it was a little toooo promptly served to be freshly made and the taste seemed to indicate that it was from a mix. V. disappointing, considering how fresh and original everything else tasted. Not much of a punch to it either.
I believe they are fairly new to their liquor license, so maybe they will be able to step up in this area.
But overall, delish food, nice ambience for a $7-11/entree kind of place.
The chips and salsa are fresh and very good. The salsa tasted just like the one my mom makes. it was very memorable. The steak burrito I had was very good. On a different visit I had the steak flautas, which were also very tasty. The meat is always well done and perfectly seasoned. The chiles rellenos my husband had were the shizznit. The orange sauce was amazing!!!!!! Kind of spicy but it had a distinct flavor. Not typical of chile relleno sauce. I kept dipping in his plate. He gave me a dirty look. Whateva!
On both occasions we went on a Friday night. It was busy but not crowded, a big group celebrating a bday, couples, etc. The sang to the bday girl, put on a big ass sombrero on her head and made her feel special.
The decor is typical over the top mexican "artesanias". 5 stars for the service. It was great! The waiter and the owner kept coming to our table to ask us if everything was okay.
I enjoyed my experience. I can't wait to go back. I think i'm going right now!
Talk about shock and awe? There is actually a decent restaurant in Norwood Park!!!.
I have been driving by Tanzitaro for quite a while. They have recently redecorated and it always seems like the place is packed. So Sunday night Carolynne r. and I finally got up enough nerve to give it a try. They did a wonderful job redecorating the place. The new tile floors and newly painted walls really gives the place a comfortable vibe.
We started out with the Steak and Chorizo Quesidillas. This appetizer was fabulous. The steak was deliciously marinated and the Chorizo gave it a texture that almost melted in your mouth.
For the Entree, I ordered my staple, the Steak Burrito Suizo. The steak, melted cheese and red sauce were a perfect combination of taste. Carolynne r. ordered a couple of different Taco's which she really enjoyed.
One of the nice things about Tanzitaro is that they have two different menu's. They have a part of the Menu that offers Mexican food, and another section that offers Traditional Guatemalan food. The Mexican food was top notch, and I can't wait to go back to give the Guatemalan food a try.
I love their enchiladas, i have had the verde, suizas and mole in just cheese and stuffed with meat. Oh, their grilled vegetable tostadas are AMAZING! my husband loves this guatemalan roasted chicken dish with wedge potatoes in a sauce and we both love their salsas! Their margaritas used to be kinda bad but they are good now. They are not the best ive tasted but i like them. The wait staff in general are really very nice and we have been there a ton of times and they havent really messed up anything. Desserts are good if you can find the room!
Wow! What a great place.
The food was great. This is at the top for Mexican food in the Chicago area. I had a Steak Burrito Dinner. The steak had a very good flavor and was tender. The salsa had a fresh taste to itself.
The people were great! I believe it was the owner that came by to ask how everything was going. The place was very busy on a Friday night, but service was prompt.
I will be returning!
BTW. They now have a bar there.
I totally expected this place to be yet another hole-in-the-wall type joint that was good for a few select items. Was I wrong! Started out with an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms - about 12, half stuffed with chicken the other with chorizo. YUM! I had enchilladas and the BF had Guatemalan Chiles Rellenos. LOVED THEM! Only negative thing,and the reason for the deduction of 1 star, is their margaritas. First, they are totally from a mix and too mixy tasting and two, when the waitress asked if I wanted a large or small, I said large thinking it was normal human size large, not a glass fit for a giant. IT WAS HUGE!! Wish the waitress would've told me, but live and learn. Otherwise, service was excellent. I am a huge fan of Don Juan's and this place gave them a run for their money.
Just because I've been on an 8 month hiatus from yelp doesn't mean I haven't been eating :)
Ugggg is what I have to say about this place. Margaritas tasted watered-down, service was slow, and my tilapia tasted fishy. Yeah, i know, "it's a fish! it should taste fishy!" but it had some overwhelmingly not-so-fresh notes. The decor is like this place used to be a diner, and they painted some colorful murals on the wall. The high point of the meal were some plantains in a cinnamon sauce. Quite sweet, and a nice flavor, though not nice enough to warrant a return visit.
If you want to know the truth, we ended up here because Amitabul was closed on sundays (though their website declared they were open! Harumph!) In the future, if i want margaritas I will head to el sol in skokie, if I want delicious tilapia los nopales in lincoln square shall be my destination. Peace out, Tanzitaro.
The food is amazing but the service is not so good. I especially love the chorizo stuffed mushroom caps on the appetizer menu. It comes with a carrot garnish in the center that will knock your socks off. I'm not sure what they marinate the carrots in but it's soooooo good.
Even though the service is terrible we keep going back because the food is amazing. Whether they are forgetting the shrimp in our fajitas (which I don't recommend because the shrimp is nasty...it's that small canned shrimp stuff ) or not bringing our check until we have to get up and ask for it, we know what to expect when we walk through the doors. Good food...bad service. Hopefully they get that corrected soon because this is some of the best Mexican/Guatemalan food in the city.
This has become one our family's regular neighborhood "joints" for Mexican food.
Its used to be called "Taqueria El Ranchito" and there is now a new owner and staff.
When we went there before it changed hands, I usually got a stomachache and the service was horrible.
Not anymore...not this place...now quite the opposite.
It now specializes in Mexican AND Guatemalan cuisine.
The family loves the fresh Guacamole and the "Tilapia Tanzitaro Style" is extremely delicious!!
Request the black beans instead of the refried beans. It comes with a grilled pepper/squash/jicama mix...yummmo!
For dessert, try the flan and the tres leche cake (homemade by someone's grandmom).
The service is excellent and the owner makes his rounds to the tables to meet & greet.
You know you are an "official regular" when the owner asks to take a picture of your family and the next week it's up on the wall (three guesses who's up there)
The dining room is absolutely beautiful. When you first walk in you are greeted with a handshake by the waiter. They make you feel extremely important at this restaurant. The food was absolutely amazing all of they're meat i noticed on the menu said either "seasoned to perfection" or "cooked to perfection" let me tell you they were not lying in that aspect. They're margaritas are huge bigger than my head. I would recommend this place to everyone it's the best.
Tanzitaro is a Mexican/Guatemalen restaurant which thankfully replaced the former resident "Taqueria El Ranchito" at the corner of Elston and Milwaukee earlier this year. It is a welcome addition to the culinary wasteland that has been the tradition in this part the NW side of Chicago. This place is a huge step up in class from the taqueria that resided previously, serving a nice range of traditional Mexican fare as well as some interesting Guatemalen dishes for a reasonable price. I can't claim to have sampled the whole menu but what I've had has all been very good. The friendly owner usually makes the rounds when he's there.
The interior is nothing special is that matters. If you go back far enough (ten years) the location was a diner, and the restaurant still has this feel somewhat inside. They do seem to be slowly upgrading the appearance.
No liquor license (yet?) so it's byob for better or worse.
They also serve breakfast but I can't comment on it since I've never gone there for breakfast, although my daughters usually have pancakes for dinner when we go there. They seem to enjoy them well enough.
This place is good, very good.
I am a 5 minute car ride away from this place and on nights when i need some decent Mexican food i stop on by. It's nothing to write home about, but most of the dishes are good. It has definitely come far from its days as a nasty little Taqueria El Ranchito. I like the prices here,nothing overly expensive.The waiters and waitresses are nice, except when they forgot to bring me my Horchata and Ice Cream. They made up for it at the end though,wishing me well and not rushing me. (I left after closing) I like Mexican restaurants that aren't like the 500 other ones in Chicago, this one is slightly different, as they also incorporate some Guatemalan food into their menu.
Good local restaurant. I love the Mexican/Guatemalan mix! The waitstaff are some of the friendliest in Chicago!
The food is good, although there are some things that I'd pass on here. The tortilla soup was a little bland and looked more like split pea, but their al pastor is awesome!
If your looking for something out of the ordinary try the Guatemalan enchilada.
Don't skip desert! I could eat the entire tres leches cake by myself.
My experience at Tanzitaro was excellent. I was a bit wary of this place as I remember the building from when in was a diner years ago. The owners are doing an excellent job remodelling the inside. The food was outstanding. I highly recommend the steak quesadillas, pollo tanzitaro, and chorizo stuffed mushroom caps. Service was friendly.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood! The food and service are both wonderful, and the restaurant is kid-friendly as well. We've been twice, and are looking forward to going back again! Right now, It's BYO, but I think they've applied for a liquor license.
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