Best Mexican Restaurants in Lincoln Square
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant
Family-run Mexican restaurant pairing hearty plates with a cocktail-focused dining room.
Notable Picks
XOchimilco is a family-owned Ravenswood spot known for its polished dining room, strong margaritas, and a menu that runs from chilaquiles and enchiladas to house steaks. Locals treat it as a neighborhood go-to for sit-down dinners and special-occasion brunches that still feel relaxed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pollo en mole, Chilaquiles verdes, XO steak
What Makes it Special: Family-run Mexican restaurant pairing hearty plates with a cocktail-focused dining room.
8.4
A tiny, BYOB neighborhood room that leans into scratch-made Mexican cooking where mole and saucy plates are the draw, not just tacos. The best move is to come hungry, pick one mole-forward entrée, and add a taco order for balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak enchiladas in mole, Salmon en mole, Sweet plantains with crema
What Makes it Special: Mole-centric, scratch-cooking in an intimate BYOB setting.
8.2
A Lincoln Square daytime specialist blending Mexican brunch comfort with a warm, neighborhood rhythm—chilaquiles, rancheros, and café de olla are the baseline order. It’s best when you treat it like a focused brunch stop: one savory plate, one sweet, and a coffee drink to round it out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles with al pastor, Huevos rancheros (or divorciados), Café de olla
What Makes it Special: Mexican brunch comfort anchored by chilaquiles and café de olla.
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Family Friendly Favorites
Happy Hour Hotspots
A high-energy Lincoln Square institution built for big tables, combo plates, and fast-moving fajitas—classic, crowd-friendly Mexican-American comfort done at scale. The move is to order one sizzling fajita set, add a shared appetizer, and let the room’s party energy do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fajita combo, Carne asada plate, Margarita pitcher
What Makes it Special: Big-room, high-volume institution that keeps fajitas and combos moving.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A small Lincoln Square counter with a tight menu that shines when you stick to tacos and birria-adjacent specialties. It’s strongest as a quick, satisfying stop: order a birria-style taco set, add one classic pastor, and keep the add-ons minimal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria tacos, Al pastor tacos, Enchiladas rojas
What Makes it Special: Small-shop tacos with a birria-leaning sweet spot.
#6
Taco Boom
7.9
A Lincoln Square mom-and-pop-style Mexican spot known for bold, savory flavors that translate well into a burrito order when you want something heavier than a taco run. It’s best as a quick dine-in or takeout move—pick one signature protein, keep toppings minimal, and let the salsa do the finishing work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria-style burrito, Carne asada burrito, Chicken burrito
What Makes it Special: Big-flavor proteins that hold up in a burrito format.
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
A compact Lawrence Ave spot built for practical, filling Mexican comfort—tacos, burritos, and breakfast-leaning plates without a lot of fuss. It’s at its best when you order one signature burrito, add a taco or two, and skip over-ordering sides.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast burrito, Steak tacos, Classic burrito
What Makes it Special: No-fuss, filling Mexican staples with strong everyday value.
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Comfort Food Classics
A small, utilitarian spot where the value play is grilled chicken combos and simple burritos that travel well. Order one combo per person, keep the sides classic, and it reads as a clean budget meal rather than a menu experiment.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Combo, Adobado, Mixed Burrito
What Makes it Special: Combo-driven chicken and burritos built for simple, filling value.