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Yolo Mexican Eatery
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
5111 Brown St(between Niles Center Rd & Lincoln Ave)
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 674-0987
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
66 reviews for Yolo Mexican Eatery
Review Highlights
"...husband ordered the Lomo de Puerco Poblano, also marvelous."
(in 4 reviews)
"This place is BYOB which is a rare find in Skokie."
(in 22 reviews)
"I must say, the Carne asada Azteca was absolutely delicious."
(in 3 reviews)
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66 reviews in English
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Review from Tammy Q.
Chicago, IL
9/7/2011
This place is a hidden gem, tucked inside small street in downtown Skokie. Very intimate setting and super accommodating and sweet staff! Hubby ordered the whole fish and he loved it; he rarely loves anything! I had the chicken enchiladas and the chicken was super soft and flavorful. I usually never finish my meals, but I cleaned up my plate like a champ!
We also had a side of chips/salsa and guacamole that were also delicious and addicting! I love that is place is in my hood and I don't have to travel to the south side to get authentic Mexican food! -
Review from Adam K.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Solid cozy place nestled in downtown Skokie. If you find yourself looking for a place to bring a bottle of wine and enjoy a quiet evening, this is your place. The head chef, owner and hostess will seat you at one of 6 tables, where you can try:
32 spice Mole w chicken breast - I am more of a fan of how they do it over at El Milagro, with the smaller drumstick, so the mole really soaks into the meat, but this is more white meat and comes with a small side of rice and beans. I am so glad they do not give you a dumptruck of rice and beans like most Mexican places.
Plaintain enchiladas with mole - best thing I had, entree-wise. Tasted like dessert.
Mango Cheesecake- tastes like mango.
Chocolate souffle - yes. -
Review from Samuel M.
11/24/2011
I was skeptical at first when I heard that a Bib Gourmand restaurant had opened up right by Village Inn, that awesome yet pathetic hangout for local divorcées. However, my experience at Yolo did not remotely disappoint. The staff at Yolo are very accommodating. I came here at 7:30 asking to seat 8 of us; the restaurant's lone 8 top hadn't even started appetizers yet. The hostess initially told me that seating us would be impossible (which i understood), but miraculously, in about 20 minutes she was able to scooch a couple of disparate 4 tops together to seat us. I was very impressed by this, and Yolo earned points for this right off the bat.
The food is also of very high quality. I would say the offerings are not drastically different from what you would see at a "standard" Mexican restaurant; the difference is that the food at Yolo is made with very high quality ingredients. I had the Carne Asada Azteca; the beef was extremely flavorful and smoky, the refried beans and guacamole were very clearly homemade, and the cactus salad was a perfect accompaniment. I tried my friend's mole negro, which may be the best I've ever tasted; the menu advertises 32 ingredients in the sauce, and while the complexity of the sauce is clearly evident, the overall flavor does not suffer remotely. My one knock is with the chips, which I could identify as El Milagro from a bag; because of this, I must needs withhold the 5 star review. However, they were not unpleasant by any means, and the salsa they were served with was absolutely delicious.
The pricing was extremely fair (8 of us got out for $150 after tax and tip), and the BYOB is an awesome perk. Yolo is truly a diamond in the rough of the series-of-warehouses that is downtown Skokie. It will be difficult to split my higher-end Mexican cravings between this place and Wholly Frijoles, but I'm definitely going to make an effort to do so. -
Review from Emily P.
Skokie, IL
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I cannot believe I've never seen this quaint restaurant before! It's very small - I think it had only about 6 small tables. The prices are decent and it has a cozy, ethnic atmosphere. Our waitress was very nice and attentive.
I tried the Sea Tacos as an appetizer - I've only had fish tacos once before so I don't have much of a reference to compare it to, but I did enjoy them. I must say, the Carne asada Azteca was absolutely delicious.
A great place to bring a date, but I'd find another restaurant to bring a large family. -
Review from Mariel P.
Skokie, IL
1/8/2012
Before coming here, my brothers and I read the yelp reviews and were excited to try something new, but unfortunately I was a little disappointed. I liked the scene- it was a small, cute restaurant that was BYOB. But the food - not the greatest. I wouldn't say it was terrible, just different, and a little overpriced. The mole sauce had a weird sweet taste to it - it's their signature. The appetizers and the entrees that had the mole sauce were very similar, so i'd recommend not ordering everything with the mole sauce. I tried my brothers steak, the meal i liked the best but it was just mediocre
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Review from Yvonne Y.
10/31/2011
We all came for the bone-in chicken breast served with a 32-ingredient mole sauce. Sauce is quite good and I thought it could have been slightly spicier. The disappointing part was the chicken was clearly cooked separately and had the sauce poured on it. It didn't have any mole flavors infused into it. Usual side of rice and refried beans. I'd try other dishes where the meat's actually cooked in the sauce.
Very friendly service. If you need a high chair, call in advance as they may only have one. -
Review from Peater J.
Niles, IL
8/30/2011
This place has more 5 star reviews than "Alinea" and the "Tamale Guy" on Yelp. For good reason....
It's the best Mexican restaurant in the North Suburbs!
Being a fan of Mexican food. I'd have to say that this was the best Mexican restaurant I've been to this year.
What sets this place apart is it's home-style Mexican cooking and it's home-made moles. On my visit I had....
Tacos Mulin Chai - 3 small tacos served with shredded chicken with mole sauce and asadero cheese. Great starter. Simple, and tasty
Mole de Tamarindo - Tamarind marinated boneless pork ribs with black mole sauce. Probably the best restaurant mole dish I've had. Delicious. Impossibly tender pork with a mole sauce with hint of chocolate, cinnamon, chiles, etc. What's now to like. The Poblano rice was also quite good.
Flan - Perfectly executed - with great buttery, nutty, classic flan.
Tanya, my server was also excellent and very friendly.
However, this restaurant is located in downtown Skokie, which makes this more of a destination restaurant. But, it's well worth the visit. I can't wait to go back! So good! -
Review from Michael S.
Skokie, IL
11/29/2011
The food is great here! Especially the dip :P be sure to make a reservation on the weekends because they get full fast. It's a small place with a great atmosphere and is BYOB.
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Review from jeanette K.
Park Ridge, IL
1/10/2012
Very yummy Mexican food. A little more quaint and elegant environment than your average Mexican restaurant. Not too pricey...and you gotta love byob!
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Review from Rich C.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012
I'll keep this simple. My date loves this place so she took me here on a Wednesday night. Bottom line... Like someone else had mentioned, a hidden gem with good food all around... you can't go wrong, and if you have room for dessert, their homemade flan or mango cheesecake are awesome. We had both because the owner was nice enough to give one on the house because she found out it my first time there. The only thing I would say is that the place is small (about 14 tables) so u might want to call ahead and it's BYOB
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Review from Bala C.
Skokie, IL
11/19/2011
I liked this place. The carne asada was excellent and the sides were very tasty and unique. Fresh unique ingredients. Diverse menu with lots of things I'd like to go back and try.
But the best part was the service and attitude. VERY kid friendly. We took our infant and 2 year old and they were genuinely glad to see us and very sweet to our kids. We went on a Thursday night at 5pm and owned the place until another family with kids came in an hour later. I agree that the staff is glad to see customers, even little ones!
I wasn't a huge fan of the salsa but minor detail. -
Review from Shaun S.
Glenview, IL
4/9/2011
Ummmm, Yes!
Yolo proves you don't have to go to the city and wait in a long line for one of Rick Bayless' places. Not that there's anything wrong with that... but, here tucked in Skokie, a little side street and Wow. Probably 7-8 tables top, it's BYOB and a nice wide ranging menu.
We had five people, we all basically shared dishes and appetizers, from their Mole's, the Chorizo Corncakes, all our dishes were really good. I had a hard time choosing, check out their menu online, go and enjoy.
Service was very casual, you're not rushed, do have some patience but if you're with good friends, all will be good. -
Review from Alan M.
Evanston, IL
3/18/2011
Oh, this is a little Skokie secret that you will totally enjoy.
A friend told us about this place, 'cause we were trying to get into our fave Wholly Frijoles and the wait was always so long.
This is Mexican, but Yucutan peninsula Mexican! Different than you're used to if all you think of is tacos, tamales and burritos.
We did start with open-faced tacos as appetizers for the table... good, but nothing to write home about. We quickly ramped things up to include a whole Pampano fish (which is apparently a fish from around the peninsula), that was beautifully served, de-boned and wonderful! A party in the mouth.
Also the chicken mole had a mole sauce with spice and chocolate tones.... fabulous. A carne asada (a safe choice) proved to be good, but typical.
All of this served on white linen table clothes with excellent wait-service, in a family-owned restaurant that genuinely seemed grateful to have the customers, rather than trying to rush you out the door.
I'll be back. Highly recommended by me. -
Review from Mark L.
Elgin, IL
10/27/2011
A very small place that simply delivers quality authentic Mexican food. Hopefully not too many read or find this place!
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Review from ChicagoFoodieGirl N.
Vernon Hills, IL
12/14/2011
Small place with fresh ingredients. I had the Mole Negro Oaxaca and it was very good and the chicken was juicy. The salsa that comes with the chips is addicting...not your usual tomato salsa, it was more of a creamy spicy sauce. I would go back and try other items on the menu.
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Review from niki y.
Skokie, IL
10/4/2011
Yolo is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Skokie, and probably the best in the north suburbs. It's definitely the best thing about Downtown Skokie, with Tub Tim Thai as a close second.
This isn't your burrito and taco joint - this is authentic Mexican cooking, so if you want a burrito, go to Las Palmas. The staff is all very nice and helpful, and the food is delicious. I'm a fan of small restaurants, with limited menus, so Yolo is right up my alley. And while the menu is limited, I feel that there is enough of a variety to choose from.
I've only been once, but I'll definitely be back! My dad and I split the Ensalada de Mango, which was absolutely wonderful and refreshing. Then I ordered the Camarones Ixtapa, which was excellent. Very spicy though. The restaurants idea of spicy is probably different than mine, so next time I'll make sure to say not as spicy as normal. My parents frequent Yolo at least twice a month, and my dad said that he has never had anything that he didn't love, and he's had most of the menu so far.
It's BYOB, which is always nice. I'm not sure if there is a cork fee because we didn't bring anything to drink.
The decor is authentic and simple. I studied Mexican art, so I appreicate them staying true to their culture.
I really hope they stay in Skokie, and that they don't expand like Wholly Frijoles did.
I highly recommend Yolo if you are looking for authentic Mexican food. -
Review from Penny T.
Glenview, IL
1/15/2012
Do not usually do this, but after thinking it over, needed to write this review. This is a very small place and when filled, especially with a loud table of women, it is difficult to hear your party. Service is quite slow, although the staff was very sweet. I ordered the Fillet Mignon, Medium, was served Well Done and they took it back leaving the rice and vegetables while I waited for a new piece of Fillet Mignon. My party was almost finished eating when I was served what appeared to be a very large piece of meat smothered in sauce. It was Medium, but it was not Fillet Mignon, it was two thin pieces of steak, one on top of the other to resemble the width of Fillet Mignon. My friends were done, I did not want to complain, again, we paid for Fillet and left. They should have just told me if they were out of Fillet or if it was going to take longer than two thin pieces of another meat. The well done piece that I tried was better than what I ended up with. We had also ordered an Chilli Relleno as an appetizer, which never came and was not on the bill. I love small places like this and want to support people who run them. But this was not right and there was no compensation offered on the bill.
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Review from steph f.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2011
I consider myself a sommelier of chiles rellenos. Yolo's are as "rica" as those found in lil' eateries of Central America. The poblano chiles were so fresh and tasty (I ordered the ground beef & cheese). And the rice - I believe it was delicately seasoned with cilantro - DIOS. MIO. (translation: OH. MY GOD.)! It's a good sign when I clean my plate and it was one of those nights. My husband ordered the Lomo de Puerco Poblano, also marvelous. & since it's served with exceptionally yummy poblano pepper sauce, i turned into an exceptionally yummy poblano pepper sauce thief!
The food takes a bit to prepare - a good sign. There's a perfect homemade quality, with all the flavors simmered in perfect unison. Our waitress was the absolute sweetest, like we were friends she's having over for dinner. It's one of those places where you can linger a while, with no pressure to leave (even with just 9 tables). On a Tuesday night, the restaurant was always more than half full, with patrons rolling in and out. We were celebrating our anniversary, so the scrumptious crepas de manzana were on the house. Along with BYOB, this place couldn't get any better. -
Review from Alex U.
Skokie, IL
Updated - 8/27/2011 1 photo
Tania and the gang are still doing a fantastic job! I had not been here in a while and there were some new items in the menu. We brought our friends from the city and they were thorougly impressed! I had the Chicken Moctezuma and it was delicious. We had the beef tostadas as an appetizers and they paired up really well with the Negra Modelo we brought with us. I love this place!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/30/2010
Top Notch, Casual, Friendly, Accomodating, BYOB, with amazing Mexican fare! This was our second of… Read more »
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Review from Dan Z.
Skokie, IL
6/20/2011
Excellent restaurant. The servings were generous. Actually the next time we go we will do appetizers: the sea tacos and the vegetable tacos along with the rice and beans. The rice is really good.
The mole is fantastic (you have to try it) but intense. I would recommend doing the mole as a shared dish - unfortunately you cannot do it as a side. The plantain enchiladas in the mole sauce are fantastic.
Make reservations and enjoy. -
Review from Dejan B.
1/6/2011
I Yelped this place on the cell while I was shopping with the family. The fam wanted something close to Touhy with hot food to warm up from another frigid December night. After a lot of searching I settled on Yolo as fitting the criteria. We were not disappointed! This place was awesome! The environs were warm and welcoming as was the service. The atmosphere spoke of class and sophistication without being pretentious (reminded me of the last restaurant Sarajevo - on Lawrence - we just visited) though the style here was more modern with ancient while Sarajevo was "Old World". The food was all delicious (we all shared) as was the Mexican hot chocolates we ordered. Parking outside was easy and FREE!
The only drawbacks to me were the prices. The cost was a bit more on the expensive side (but not excessive) and the presentation (the plates, etc.) was not anything as elegant as the interior. That being said, I would strongly recommend this place for families, a romantic dinner out, or anytime else you want good food, good service, and good atmosphere.
P.S. Be aware that the place is small so try to call ahead if you can and make reservations. -
Review from Joyce C.
Morton Grove, IL
11/22/2010
Came here a little while back with another couple, during a weeknight. Had no problems being seated. Service was a little slow but they were accommodating.
Ordered the corn cakes and the shrimp cerviche for apps. The shrimp cerviche was much better.
I ordered the fried plantain enchiladas and my husband ordered the chicken with the green mole. My dish was just ok, maybe I wasn't in the mood for it or what but I didn't think it was anything special. My husband's dish looked more appealing and tasted good even though it was lacking a little salt.
I would come back to try something different, and I like the BYOB option. -
Review from Ehow C.
10/1/2010
This review is long overdue.
This restaurant is a wonderful addition to Skokie. My friend (Mike V.) and I have come here twice when we've had adventures out to Skokie.
The food is pretty fantastic, as you can see and taste the care taken in every dish. Top that with fruit-flavored agua (pineapple, yum) and you have a wonderful meal.
Most importantly, the service is top notch. You come for the food, you stay for the warm hospitality. -
Review from Anfisa P.
Skokie, IL
It was a "girls' night out" and I was responsible for finding a new place to have dinner at. Girls requested to have a BYOB restaurant and immediately I got on Yelp to look for a place. I have to say, this place lives up to their reviews and then some. The food was incredible!!! Our "server" was the owner of "Yolo" - she was very helpful with picking out entrees and kept up with opening our bottles of wine. It is a wonderful place to go on a date as well because how small and intimate this place is. I was very impressed with our experience at Yolo and will definitely come back!!! Thank you so much!!!!
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Review from Corey M.
Dayton, OH
10/23/2010
Really good local restaurant. I think one of Tony Bourdain's assistant chefs opened this restaurant. Truly exceptional food. This restaurant can only seat 27 people. A charming little family opened place. You will need a reservation on Saturday.
They don't have a liquor license - so BYOB. You can buy a bottle of wine or 6-pack at the bar on the corner. We had Mole Verde Chicken (green mole chicken), Lomo de Puerco Poblano (pork in a delightful green chile sauce), Salmon Cerviche, and Jamaica (hibiscus tea) flan. It was all excellent, and we had left-overs. My favorite was the pork.
The restaurant characterizes itself as "Fine Mexican Dining". It is certainly not Tex-Mex, and the preparations really were fine dining. Those expecting typical heaping portions of Tex-Mex, or Fajitas, will be disappointed. The menu was really creative, and should please foodies. I believe you will have a unique and special dining experience. I would certainly return, and would recommend the restaurant for everyone. -
Review from Elizabeth A.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2010
So they deserve more of 2.5 but not quite a 3.
The ambiance is very cute here; the place is quaint, dimly lit, and semi-upscale feeling. The wait staff is also very friendly and attentive.
...great, now for the food which is what I care most about. They have a limited selection and serve far too small of portions for their prices. $13 for plantain enchiladas which are mediocre is not an okay price. One cool this is that they're BYOB...
I guess I don't have much to say about this place except that it's mediocre, limited, Mexican food that is highly overpriced. I won't be returning. -
Review from Grace L.
Glenview, IL
8/19/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I think I am not alone when I say that there aren't many joints, if at all, that have been able to serve good homey Mexican food. Not burritos or fajitas or anything with orange cheese. (Although I am still on the hunt for the perfect street tacos al pastor.)
This place is able to pull off good Mexican food and major props on good service. We came in on a Friday night with reservations, and the place was packed, save our table for two. This place is definitely on the small side--maybe 20-30 people max seating. We're greeted at the door, seated immediately and water poured soon after.
Ordered sea tacos as appetizer, mole negro oaxaca, and filete tijin. For our drinks we ordered the aqua frescas of the day: cantalope and hibiscus. Both were refreshing on a hot summer night!
The sea tacos were absolutely amazing....fresh grilled fish and the tomatillo sauce that came with it complemented it wonderfully. Peeps, it's been awhile since I've wiggled in happiness while eating a taco...this was the bomb. The tomatillo sauce is addictive!
Our entrees were also deee-lightful, the black mole is heavy and complex, delish, but I wish that the chicken was cooked IN the mole and not draped with it. Even then, the chicken was tasty and not dry.The steak was juicy, and the peppers that came on top of it mixed well with the tomato sauce. Even the beans and rice that came with the dishes were well spiced. Overall, just a great meal at a great price, can't really lose here. Ate waaay too much, estoy muy llena, will have to save room for dessert next time.
The waiter and waitress pay great attention to detail, we asked for extra ice in our water, she brought some out mid meal in case we wanted more. She noticed that my husband didn't drink much of the hibiscus and asked about it. It's going way above what is expected that made us feel welcomed and valuable customers. And that...is why we are going back as soon as we can.
Thanks Yolo for reassuring us that there are places to eat that care about their food, their customers and smiling about it the entire time. -
Review from Katherine L.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011
I heard great things about this place and on a recent trip there with a friend really, really wanted to like it. However, after my experience there I would never go back again, and would recommend no one else ever step foot inside either. First off, the meal started off ok. The server was very friendly, and quick to bring us chips and drinks. The chips were good, but we found the salsa to be pretty bland. That's fine though, it's not like either of us needed the extra calories. My friend stuck with water (it's BYOB and we forgot to bring booze) and I tried the horchata. I found it to be overwhelmingly sweet and sugary, which I know some people enjoy, but isn't really to my taste. I shrugged that off as being fine too, horchata is a little bit different everywhere you go. After that we ordered and our food was served promptly. I think for the most part we enjoyed our food. Again like the salsa it was a little bit bland, but I was willing to let that slide and come back again and try something else, figuring what I ordered was a little basic and next time I would try something more complicated. We each finished eating, got the check, paid and left. That entire experience would have been fine, and probably would have garnered a 3 star review. What was not fine, not in any way, shape or form fine, was how massively sick my friend and I each got a few hours later, sick from something that had to have come from that restaurant. We hadn't eaten together earlier in the day, we had not been drinking and neither of us ate anything later. It was definitely something in that restaurant, as we both felt better after being sick and getting what looked like our entire meals out of our systems. I'm sure some people have had lovely times and experiences here, but after this I would never go back.
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Review from Joshua N.
5/23/2010
A small family restaurant on a quiet in downtown Skokie serves as a perfect place to hide some vibrant, upscale Mexican cuisine. I had the plantain enchiladas, covered in a densely flavored black mole, which brought a bouquet of bold flavors which constantly teeter between sweet and savory, but ultimately decide on some serious heat.
Mole fans are going to be very happy here, burrito fans, not as much. -
Review from Steve J.
Glenview, IL
10/27/2011
Outstanding! This is not a Tex-Mex joint. This is wonderful Mexican fine food. Moles are very complex. Tacos Quiximos are great with a flavor I have not before tasted. BYOB with no cover charge. Enjoy!
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Review from Andy F.
Skokie, IL
10/26/2011
I live in the area and really wanted to like this place. We ordered two chicken dishes for carry out. The atmosphere looked very nice. The food was simply not good. Mostly the chicken used tasted like over-processed/ pre-formed (reconstituted?) meat. It was unnaturally uniform shape with a taste and texture to match. No amount of good sauce or side dishes can cover that up. Wasn't worth keeping the left-overs and left us still yearning a good meal.
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Review from Al D.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2010
High-quality Mexican food in Skokie?
It's worth the trek via car or Yellow line. Don't live your life thinking Uncle Julio's, Cesar's and Mi Tierra, or some over-hyped Rick Bayless joint are the final words in Mexican cuisine.
This place is the real deal in good, wholesome Mexican cuisine. I went here with a group of co-workers, one of whom is from Mexico. The dining room is small, so call ahead. We were all impressed by Yolo.
The interior is elegant with subtle classical touches of Mexican art, without any sombreros and neon colors. The staff takes pride in their genuine menu of Mexican gastronomic delights.
I don't think I need to say anything more as other reviews share the same views as me....and their house salsa is the BEST I've ever had in a restaurant. -
Review from Aaron H.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2011
Extremely satisfied with Yolo. Went with my girlfriend on a Tuesday evening after driving around and yelping on our phones for a good Mexican restaurant around where we work. We were very excited when we found this high-rated little gem where we can 'bring our own bottle' of margaritas. After discovering 'free parking' behind the restaurant, we were even more ready to try out the restaurant. It is a small restaurant, but cute, with authentic statues and music. There seemed to be only two waitresses working but the place was empty, so service was great. They were extremely nice and helpful as well.
We started with guacamole and chips which had a delicious fresh avocado, cilantro, and lime flavor without being overpowered by the onions. I ordered the "Lomo de Puerco Poblano" (pork tenderloin) which was out of this world. My girlfriend had the "Pechuga de Pollo Moctezuma" (chicken breast with a pipian sauce) which was also delicious. The entrees came out extremely warm and both were very flavorful. They also were both served with fresh steamed vegetables which made the meal seem generally 'healthy' overall. We will definitely be back to Yolo and highly recommend it!! -
Review from Jenn K.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2010
I'll start off with the good stuff - the service at Yolo was flawless. Our waitress was attentive, but not overly so. They accommodated our off-the-menu requests (the sea taco appetizer came with three tacos but there were four in our party and they added one extra) and also split the price of the appetizer between our two checks, which most places won't do. Every employee we encountered - and, as the place is tiny, we ran into them all at one point or another - was friendly, polite, and all-in-all great.
Unfortunately, the food was mostly terrible. The chips and sauce (not a salsa, but more of a veggie puree) that you get for free to start with were awesome, but that's where it ended. The fish taco appetizer was bland, bland, bland. It looked really pretty, especially with the pickled red onions on top. However, you couldn't even taste the onions!! The whole dish, including the green salsa it came with, simply lacked seasoning.
I had the pork tenderloin in a poblano cream sauce with mixed veggies and mashed sweet potatoes. Like with the fish tacos, it all lacked seasoning. The vegetables looked and tasted as if they came frozen out of a bag and were just boiled and put on a plate. The sweet potato mash was stringy and bland. And the pork was worst of all. It was smothered in about three times more sauce than it needed - and I hate to say it, but the sauce reminded me of something that had already been eaten and put back on the plate, if you know what I mean (not exactly appetite-inducing). It was a sickly pale green and had kernels of sweet corn and poorly chopped poblano strips mixed in. The pork was tough and hard to cut and chew.
One of my friends ordered the filet mignon, but it wasn't the right cut of meat. We never did figure out what it was, but our best guess was flank steak. It was also drenched in way too much sauce, which was a gross, clumpy brown that was not at all appetizing to look at (or, according to him, to eat).
The two people who ordered vegetarian entrees were happier than us, but the meals still were not worth the yelp hype we had read. The cheese chili rellenos did get good comments at the table, though, and everyone who had rice said it was excellent.
Overall, a big disappointment and we won't be returning, despite the nice atmosphere and friendly staff. -
Review from Jacob K.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2010
Even with the prior reviews for this place I was quite skeptical as Skokie is not known for great ethnic food. However, this place is probably one of the only authentic Mexican restaurants in the Chicagoland area. Just a note though- they do not have burritos or tacos- this is real Mexican not tex-mex which you find and most places.
The waitress/hostess/server was very nice and accommodating. I had called in and asked if they had dishes that did not contain onions as I once went with my family and my father is allergic to onions. On the phone they said they could make anything without onions. Of course when we got there we learned there was only one dish... a chicken salad that had no onions and we nearly walked out for that reason. They were kind enough to bring him a free cheese chili roleno and the chicken salad was actually very good.
For appetizers I would recommend the Tostadas Oaxaquenas which were very flavorful and topped with beans, shredded beef Mexican sausage and cheese. The tostadas de ceviche de pescado (plain soft tortillas filled with fish and topped with mole and Tacos mulin chaai (warm soft tortillas filled with chicken and topped with mole) were both good. The civiche de camaron (shrimp civiche) was good but not great.
The real star of the menu is the Enchiladas de platano (plantain filled enchiladas topped with black mole) which is slightly sweet and slightly spicy. Some of my friends enjoyed the Pampano Rio verde (a whole cooked fish with cilantro sauce), the Mignon Meztli (filet minon in a mushroom cream sauce) and the lomo de puerco poblano (pork loin in a poblano sauce. I had the carne asada. It came overdone the 1st time but was quickly and apologetically replaced with one done to perfection. (I would recommend ordering it medium rare). The carne asada was good but I expected more flavor. The apple crepes in brandy sauce were very good , but the flan was pretty standard.
However, the excellent service and atmosphere deserves a 6th star. The waitress/hostess is extremely sweet and attentive. The "upscale" restaurants in Chicago could learn a few things from her as she makes the dining experience memorable and goes out of her way to make sure all of the customers are happy. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night I would highly advise you to make a reservation as there are 9 tables which are quickly filled.
In summary:
1. Make a reservation
2. For appetizers order Tostadas Oaxaquenas
3. Make sure someone at the table gets Enchiladas de Platano
4. If you have room order the apple crepes with brandy sauce and ice cream.
5. Tipp your waitress well- you won't get service like this elsewhere. -
Review from Jen M.
Evanston, IL
3/12/2010
Yolo gets high marks across the board. It's a small restaurant, which sometimes can make for a loud, crowded scene but in this case it works. The atmosphere is warm and inviting because it's small. It feels very much like a family-owned, honest place and that's exactly how the owners appear.
As for the food, we loved that it's both gourmet and authentic Mexican food. Tex-Mex has its positive attributes, but my husband and I definitely prefer the authentic stuff that Yolo serves up. I had the plantain enchiladas covered in mole, and I think mole is a good dish to judge a gourmet Mexican restaurant by. They definitely pulled it off, as it's extremely flavorful and delicious. My husband had the chicken mole, which was equally delicious.
The portions are large and filling so we were too stuffed for dessert...always a good sign! We're so glad to have discovered a top-notch restaurant in Skokie, and we're more than happy as Skokie residents to continue giving them business. -
Review from neeters m.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2011
Truly amazing mexican food. Fresh. Home-made. Flavorful. Authentic. Move over Fronterra Grill. Having grown up in southern california I have high standards when it comes to mexican food. It's as good as if someone from mexico who really knows how to cook invited you into their home for a meal. And it doesn't get any better than that. I can't believe a place this good is in Skokie. It's small and charming and the wait staff is super sweet and attentive. The home-made agua frescas were spot on.
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Review from Craig S.
Skokie, IL
9/26/2009
A-MAZING! Had no idea this place had even opened up, but we stumbled upon it thanks to my fellow Yelpers. What a find. We've been looking for a place that serves authentic and interesting Mexican ever since moving from Uptown (we ate at Riques nearly once a week) and now we've found it. We started with a wonderfully creamy avocado salsa that everyone at the table raved about. For the entrees, I had an incredible mole served over a perfectly cooked chicken and my wife had the grilled shrimp & veg kebabs
They make their own fruit waters (tonight they had a cucumber & lemon combo as well as a hibiscus; both were tremendous) which are a must as they complement so many of the dishes. Desserts were as impressive as the entrees. We had both the apple crepes and plantains and inhaled every last morsel.
Service was excellent and attentive without hovering. We are definitely going back and will surely bring our friends. They're new and a little hidden (they're on the side street that near Village Inn), so make make the effort to get out and support them. Skokie needs more places like this and, when we get one, we need to make sure it sticks around. -
Review from Cole C.
Skokie, IL
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
You won't find your generic Mexican food here. Everything I've tried here has been fantastic. The chiles rellenos and the tacos mulin chaai (with shredded chicken and a black mole sauce) are delicious. The ambiance is nice here and the service is great. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. It's very small, so you really need a reservation on the weekends.
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Review from Christina L.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2011
So my mother in law was buying a new car when I decided I was hungry, I hopped on the Yelp App on my droid phone and Yolo Mexican Eatery was the first to pop up. I knew I wanted mexican food so I read the reviews. To my surprise all the reviews were so great, I had to try this place out myself. Well sure enough it was a really great place. It was warm and cozy, with some really nice music. The place was empty so it was especially nice to get solo attention from the waiter. She attended to our every need. She was very nice and she was very entertained by my daughter. They were dancing together. It was just an all around great place. I had the Mole Verde, my mother in law had an appetizer that was like sopes, and my husband had the steak. Really tiny but great place!!
