Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant

This is only the second time we have been here and it was a bad experience overall. There was a table of 8. We only got one menu UNTIL we asked for more. No chips and salsa were served like all normal restaurants until we asked. We didn’t get admitted inside because one person in the party wasn’t «dressed «for it. Even though we all were dressed dressy for a friends birthday. We also paid $ 44 for TWO drinks. When it came time to pay we were rushed and they were RUDE. The waitress and the manager or whatever he was. Security guard (woman) was rude. We did not enjoy our visit at ALL. I feel bad for my friend because all we wanted was a fun night with music and drinks. But they made it be miserable. Service is horrible. DO NOT GO THERE. Lalos you lost 8 customers and the many more from who we are going to tell above you!

Finally tried this place after living in the area for 3 years… I’m surprised by all the negative reviews about this place.
As soon as we were seated, we were given chips and salsa, as well as free soup. Salsa was good and had a kick to it, which I appreciated. Our server came by and was really sweet. We ordered a small guacamole (custom ordered), the Tijuana quesadillas, and the steak taco dinner plate. I really loved the fresh guac they made, and the Tijuana quesadillas were amazing! I’ve never had shrimp, spinach and garlic in a quesadilla before but I’m so glad I tried it. Boyfriend ordered the steak taco dinner plate and enjoyed it, but the drink he ordered (upside-​down corona/​tequila drink) was not worth getting (price or taste).
Overall, service was attentive and friendly and the food was good! I’ll definitely be coming back for the Tijuana quesadillas and the guac.

My friends and I was there this, weekend enjoying food and drinks and 5 minutes after we paid our bill we we’re approach my a gentleman that appeared to be the manager on duty. He ask us how our food was and If we wanted to order something else… we stated we didn’t. He then proceed to say that people was waiting for a table. I ask was we being put out jokingly because I knew that, wasn’t happening… oh but it was he response was «yes» I should also say that my friend was still finishing her drink and we had just paid for our meal. I wouldve been slightly OK IF I saw him go to other tables to do the same. He didn’t…I have never been asked to leave from any restaurant in my life and I was very offended.

I’ve been waiting for two hours and still standing at the bar. Food better be worth it!!!
Guacamole sucked by the way!!!
… they already have 3 stars
Not coming here again

Worst place to come for Mexican food. I checked in and told them 6 plus a baby and after waiting 1:30hrs they told me that they couldn’t accommodate for my baby and that I will have to wait longer if I wanted to bring my baby in. This place is complete bullshit and horrible service. Management sent use to another location after waiting 2hrs. Avoid ZERO stars for this shitty establishment

Good food, steak was decent quality. Some nights they used to have a mariachi band which is quite entertaining for some… not so much for others… I should’ve called and asked
Another experience was with a pretty blunt, inappropriate, and crass D.J.that was there on Cinco De Mayo, I again was not expecting a D.J. but anyway he was asking women what was in their purses which was pretty uncomfortable for some younger diners…
I’ve had very mixed experiences with the entertainment here but for the most part nice place for adults!

Disappointed with the drinks. The margaritas have cheap alcohol. The drinks and food upset my stomach.

I came here on a Thursday night. They had live music, which really set the mood. There was a nice size crowd, but we were still seated immediately.
My friends and I ordered Margachelas and they were terrible! We had to get shots of grenadine added to make it drinkable.
I order the steak nachos and they were a disgrace! The worst nachos I’ve ever had in my life. They used slices of cheese and it was barely melted. It was barely any steak on them and pieces were all really tiny.
They only give you 1 napkin at a time and we had to request napkins 4 different times. The bus boy came and cleaned the table two times while we were still eating. He reached over us without saying excuse me and took food that we weren’t finished eating.
Overall, I did not have a pleasant experience. The wait staff needs to work on their table manners and the chef needs a new recipe for the steak nachos!

Bad food, horrible service, only reason they have people coming in is because they play decent music. Do me a favor Lalo’s you don’t have to serve mexican food anymore just serve appetizers and drinks. Oh yea I forgot if you want to sit at a table you need to eat your shitty food. Waaaaay over priced food and drinks. The only reason your restaurant is surviving is because people think you are actually a mexican restaurant. You are truly a joke!!! The manager actually told me that they care more about their business than their customers and I clearly saw that tonight. EAT REAL MEXICAN FOOD PEOPLE COMALES, even Raymond’s tacos are probably better than this place.

Chain, Mexican restaurant in south loop.
The good — spacious place, good for families and larger groups. Seasoned wait staff that know how to juggle multiple tables. Large portions so a good spot for students as you’re likely to have leftovers. Of the food, I enjoyed the complimentary soup that they served in the beginning — it tasted like chicken noodle soup with a mexican twist — would definitely order a larger portion of it as an appetizer or entrée. The drinks were also yummy and strong — the mojito was not syrupy at all, and actually had a decent amount of kick to it.
The meh — the food isn’t revolutionary or drool worthy. It’s good old reliable mexican food, but nothing innovative. My fish tacos were mostly breading, and very little fish. My tamales were similarly not memorable, with a dryness to it that I did not know was possible with tamales.
Overall, a good student or budget dining spot.

I came here for my best friends birthday dinner. The food was ok. The drinks were good. I had a nice time.

WORST PLACE EVER.
WORST
WORST
WORST
WORST
UGH WORST
If I could give this place –1,000 stars I would. Their «top shelf» is sauza AT BEST. at worst they use Patron which everyone with a brain knows is shit, fake tequila.
I’m also offended by the pat downs? What the? Is this the military? Chill out guys. Literally the most unnecessary behaviors ever. So many gross, ratchet people. I’m offended that this place is still in business. Gross. Literally eat sewer shit and drink rat piss first.
It was incredibly stereotypically done. They only did pat downs for Latin-​American and African-​American men. No mind to anyone Caucasian. It was so racist it blew my mind. My boyfriend is the nicest most man in the world and was patted down for his appearance… I was so repulsed by this establishment. Their existence is not only offensive to society but takes us 100 years back. It’s an insult both to any progress and to our ancestors. Lalos on Maxwell is a joke and I feel sorry for their owners and any ignorant human that thinks it’s okay to frequent this racist shit hole.

After a couple of decent visits here, I had a couple of experiences that make me not want to return. Perhaps the place is just headed downhill — fast! On two of the last three visits, no one came to our booth until I walked across the restaurant and asked if someone would take our order. On both occasions, I waited over five minutes before going to that extent to get some service. Not even water or chips and salsa came until they were asked for.
I asked the waitress why we didn’t get the complimentary soup that we always received when we walked in. She said it only comes with dinners and we didn’t order dinners. I told her that that was not the case on previous visits. When my friend ordered a burrito and I ordered three tacos without beans/​rice (a la carte) because I don’t like dry rice as a side dish, I got the complimentary soup every time. This waitress refused to bring it.
And WORST of all was the visit on Dec. 22 — I believe it was — when I paid to park in the neighborhood, went for a walk, and showed up at Lalos at 10:40. We were turned away because the grill was already shut down. But wait! The time on the window says closing time in 11:00 PM. Restaurants that close early — especially when you have to pay to park to go to them — are the worst! Very dissatisfied with this place on the last three visits. Very!

3.5 I have seen quite a few not so great reviews of this place. I’ve been here twice in the past month and I haven’t experienced anything horrific to the point it gets a bad review. First off, both times I’ve been here Lalo’s has been packed. One time was on a Friday and one time was on a Wednesday. They always seem to have some kind of band going on. Food is contemporary Mexican food and it is just a more upscale restaurant compared to hole in the wall taco joints in Pilsen. Although I prefer hole in the wall Mexican joints in Pilsen, sometimes you just want Mexican food with some drinks and be able to chill and enjoy. I think this place is a place for that.
Well okay, there was an incident on that Friday I went that disrupted my dinner time at Lalo’s. It seems like there’s a lot of large group parties at Lalo’s (bachelorette, birthdays, etc). As the mariachi band was playing, there was a lady who was «turnt up» was yelling, shrieking, dancing, and screaming of joy and fun the ENTIRE time. I thought I was in a jungle. I don’t usually converse with other customers at a restaurant but the tables around us all felt the same way and was just shocked at the annoying noise produced by this woman. Now my rating on Unilocal and our waitress’ tips weren’t a reflection based on this incident because I have worked in the food industry for almost a decade before and know the awkwardness of the situation. However, I should mention it because management could have done something about it. Having your customers hear someone scream at the top of her lungs every five minutes isn’t fair to us and our experience there. We didn’t sign up for that.

I’ve been to Lalos on several occasions and it never impresses me. Their food is expensive and so so. I don’t mind paying a good amount for food, as long as the quality is there. Alas, at Lalos that doesn’t happen. Their margaritas are heavy on the liquor but almost to the point you can’t enjoy it .
Last night I was there. We were seated enjoying our time and the server was so pushy to get us out of the table it was extremely rude and annoying. We were eating and drinking and getting up to dance and she basically tried to kick us out of the table. She told us we needed to give up the table (after maybe an hr) and that we could go sit at the bar. Excuse me?!
Lalos is so full of it I can’t take the place any longer. I will be taking my business elsewhere !

Everyone here seems to be giving mixed opinions about the nightlife surrounding Lalo’s huh? From the hot messes to those that couldn’t even get past this hardass of a bouncer, you either love it or hate it here.
Well, don’t mind me for not having had a margarita or Corona here yet, but for lunch with the coworkers. I can’t complain. This place delivers on its promise of Mexican (or rather Tex-​Mex) to my hungry stomach, and that’s all I can ask for.
The restaurant is huge, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting a table if you are coming during the lunch hours. Right as you’re seated, the free chips and salsa come right out (YES!) Nothing to rave about, but the chips definitely kept pouring into our baskets, so heeyyyy.
And what’s this? A free bowl of soup?! Again, Chicago you and your free stuff right when you get in to a restaurant is most appreciated.
I ordered the carne asada burrito and couldn’t even finish it! Portions were quite generous especially after you’ve had so many chips and salsa consumed in your belly. The burrito did hit the spot, but nothing about it stood out. It was a safe enough bet that I took, and it did its job.
I’ll probably come back to Lalo’s to experience it’s trashy side one day. For now, I’ll stick with what’s good on the menu before the margaritas hit.

I have been here plenty of times, weekends and weekdays… Now for those that come here for a Wednesday/​Friday/​Saturday night dinner may be a bit confused and alarmed when they hear there is an hour+ wait.
Let’s review… the place is open until 3am on Saturday and Friday/​Wednesday until 2am… with a DJ/​band, it pretty much turns into a club. For me, that is not my typical night, so I make sure to go either earlier or not on those nights. Plus there are some other great restaurants in this area now (literally go across the street, great BBQ food).
Getting back to food and drinks, both are delicious. I really like the margarita’s here and they have Milagro tequila, which is a favorite for me. Their mojitos are just as good and perfect on a Summer day/​night The fajitas are a good size portion and juicy meats plus some great veggies. I am never disappointed with a selection here. They also have catering and I have used this numerous times (birthday parties, family events, large party) and again never been disappointed. Any and all guests rave about the food and love love love the salsa. I usually have either just the right amount of food or a small amount of left overs, in which everyone wants to take some home. :)
Overall, double check the night you go for what is going on and plan accordingly. This is a place to go to for great food, drinks annnnd dancing. If large crowds are a bother, make adjustments and visit on a different night. Plus there are some other great restaurants in this area.

This Lalo’s is vibrant and LOUD. Went on a Friday night about 7. There’s a loud band playing all your Mexican faves from La Bamba to Tequila! You can’t hear yourself think, let alone hear the person at your table. The food is bland, average, service is average, drinks are big, slightly overpriced. Overall, it’s just an average place, but don’t go of you’re looking for a quiet evening.
People in the lobby are spilling all over the place waiting on your table. There’s no waiting area. It’s just a walk7ng aisle by the bar full of drunk people waiting on your table.

we go here once in a bluemoon mostly cos the kids can be themselves (loud). Today, having skipped lunch due to a busy work day went in hungry with the kiddos after school. We ordered chicken enchiladas and chicken quesdillas. I didnt like my chicken enchilada as hungry as i was… The kids had a few bites and there were enough leftovers for my husband. Its not really the kind of standard i expect from a fancy mexican restaurant.

This place is great for a hot mess kind of night. They have a dance floor in the middle of the restaurant on the weekends. The food is pretty decent, I had the chicken mole enchiladas and I was stuffed afterwards.
I’m a chips and salsa fanatic and while I have to comment on the fact that they weren’t all that– they do keep them flowing while you’re there so why that works!
The flavored margaritas are the way to go. In my opinion the flavored was much better than the traditional.
Good environment for large parties, big long bar if your solo or with a buddy. I’m giving them three stars because I’ve had better mexican food but I’m also giving them three stars because of the location and the vibe.