Best of
Best Mexican restaurants in the West Loop, Chicago
The West Loop's Mexican scene runs from upscale modern restaurants on Randolph and Fulton Market to long-running counter-service taquerias on the Near West Side. The list below is grouped by format. Every pick links to its full business page.
Modern Mexican destinations
Upscale, modern Mexican rooms across Randolph and Fulton Market.
- LA Josie Open now Jalisco-forward cooking with a serious agave bar and rooftop energy. Strongest plays are crispy birria-style bites and bright, acid-forward seafood starters.740 W Randolph St 1, Chicago, IL, 60661
- Costera Open now Costera Cocina Tulum on Fulton Market — coastal and Mayan flavors from Tulum, Mexico, with a tropical bar program and a seasonal patio.846-850 W Fulton Market 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Cabra Open now Stephanie Izard's Peruvian-inspired rooftop bar atop The Hoxton (Peruvian, not strictly Mexican — included for the agave-bar overlap).200 N Green St, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60607
Classic taquerias and street-style
Counter-service and casual taquerias.
- Tacombi Open now Tacombi at 126 N Peoria — beachy taqueria aesthetic in a large, lively room. Crispy fish, al pastor, birria tacos backed by pitchers of margaritas.126 N Peoria St 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Taqueria Chingon 2.0 Open now Mexico-City-style chef-driven taqueria with signature al pastor and items like duck carnitas. On the Fulton Market block.817 W Fulton Market 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- LA Lagartija Open now La Lagartija Taqueria at 132 S Ashland — Near West Side standby since 2010 for Mexico City-leaning tacos on housemade tortillas. Al pastor, shrimp, and steak; queso fundido and margaritas.132 S Ashland Ave 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Bocaditos Open now Cuban-inspired café and brunch spot on West Madison, with a relaxed atmosphere.1140 W Madison St 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Federales Open now West Fulton Market Mexican with a margarita bar — late-night kitchen and large dining room.180 N Morgan St 1st, Chicago, IL, 60607
Specialty Mexican
Brunch-bottomless and tortas-and-tamales formats.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the best Mexican in the West Loop, Chicago?
- There is no single answer — for upscale modern Mexican with a rooftop, Cabra (Peruvian-inspired but adjacent in spirit) or La Josie. For coastal Tulum-inspired dining, Costera. For classic Mexico City-leaning tacos at everyday prices, La Lagartija or Taqueria Chingón. For Puebla-style cemitas, Cemitas Puebla. For a late-night kitchen, Federales.
- Are there bottomless brunch options for Mexican in the West Loop?
- Yes — most modern Mexican restaurants on this list offer weekend brunch with cocktail pairings. Bar Takito's well-known bottomless brunch closed in February 2026; see the brunch page for the current options.
- Where can I get authentic tacos in the West Loop?
- For chef-driven Mexico City-style, Taqueria Chingón is the closest to the authentic-and-elevated category. For everyday counter-service tacos, La Lagartija and Cemitas Puebla are the longest-standing. For variety in a large room, Tacombi covers the broadest range.
- What is a cemita?
- A cemita is a large sandwich originating in Puebla, Mexico, made on a sesame-seed sandwich bun with various fillings, often including avocado, papalo herb, chipotle, and string cheese. Cemitas Puebla at 817 W Fulton is the dedicated cemita specialist in the neighborhood.
Listings checked against City of Chicago license status and our closure records on 2026-08-09. Most recent individual pick verified 6 days ago.