Barrio Reviews

Saw Barrio from a cab on the way to my hotel and decided to check it out. Super glad I did! Not super busy during the day, so easy to grab a seat for lunch and/or drinks. Staff is nice but non-intrusive. Try the Pantera Rosa cocktail!

My friends and I came here for dinner for Chicago’s Restaurant Week this year. We loved the fun drinks and atmosphere! We each had the three course tasting menu and loved everything we had. I would definitely come back to try more things -with a group or for a date night. We were even greeted by Katsuji Tanabe from Top Chef!

Great atmosphere, friendly wait staff, fast service and great food! Would recommend if you are out for a day of shopping or site seeing.

We had the octopus tacos which were out of the this world...highly recommend. The deconstructed chicken tacos were amazing as well. Service was great. Fun atmosphere with DJ.

My friend and I ate a late lunch here and very much enjoyed ourselves. First of all it was really nice they were happy to serve us at 2pm, thats definitely a later lunch. We took our time had the traditional gauc and I had a modified salad. That being said they don't have a ton of veggie or vegan options but I just asked them to take the goat cheese off a salad and it was really delicious. We never felt rushed, even though the restaurant was empty. We definitely enjoyed ourselves and would go back again!

Mexican food with other ethnic influences. We have gone here for brunch multiple times. The eggs Benedict with braised short rib, cotija cheese, and cilantro hollandaise is perfect and savory. The bloody Maria with Don Julio blanco, wrapped bacon, and a stuffed jalapeño is a great twist on the Bloody Mary and is STOUT. This place has a lot of fun drinks and multiple brunch options in a trendy setting. The women’s restroom has a disco ball! Food is so good, drinks phenomenal, and service always attentive. Perfect brunch day in Chicago.

Our lunch here was delicious! The apps of guacamole and chips and octopus were excellent and our entrees of beef tacos, octopus tacos, chicken fried rice and my blackened mahi mahi sandwich was scrumptious. It’s probably the best Mahi Mahi I’ve ever had. They began the meal with complimentary shots of espresso and rumchata. All I can say is wow! Then after our meal we had the lemon pancakes. As I write this my mouth is watering. Our over all dining experience was most enjoyable.

Stopped by after a long day. Fresh made from scratch margaritas with smoked salt rim makes these incredible. The tacos were some of the best I’ve had outside of Mexico, and the upbeat vibe creates a space worth dropping by.

I see a lot of generous reviews for this new restaurant. Are they reviewing the food or the ambiance? Lets start with the ambiance. Its nice and hip but OMG ITS LOUD! . When I go to a restaurant, I dont want to be screaming to have a conversation. I do that in a club or a bar. The music with your typical loud mouths is a disaster to my eardrums. If you like this type of ambiance then this is the place to be. Not for me. The service is just OK. Our server Tray was super nice and friendly which is a big plus but he forgets a lot of stuff and I need to remind him of stuff multiple times. So he only got an 18% tip instead of 20. That is a good thing so dont throw shade. The runners (is that what you call them? the ones who bring your food and refill water, etc) are the ones who get 5 stars in my book. I would have easily given them a 20% tip. They screwed up our order and then billed us for the mistake, not a good but Tray of course took care of that. But that is a lesson for everyone to check check your bill. Now for the food. I love fusion because its about innovation and creativity. The problem with fusion is if you dont hit the mark, then me no like. I was super excited to learn that the chef is Japanese which could mean a mex japanese fusion. The red snapper ceviche had way too much citrus and spice that it was just a tangy spicy dish with not much balance of flavors. I was expecting a lot from this dish but it was a big disappointment. The crab guac was just ok, there was no wow factor to it. The winners are the tacos, we had the mahi mahi and octopus tacos and they were amazing. For $7 per taco, it better be. Overall, since I only enjoyed the tacos here, id rather take my money at Takito or Dos Urban cantina. The food just didnt do it for me here. I am not going to be a return customer unfortunately. Would I recommend it? If you are someone who enjoys being in a hip trendy place and food is secondary and are wiling to pay the price then sure but for the well traveled foodies who have a sophisticated palette, not really. Deep Sigh... neutral!

I was visiting Chicago from London and was pleasantly surprised at how good the tacos were. So fresh and light. We had cocktails at the bar first, they were delicious. Bar tenders could be a little more friendly. Guacamole was the best I have ever tasted. Ambience is lively, the DJ is a great touch. Loved the music which kept the vibe light and fun. Service was really good. Would definitely go back next time I am in Chicago.

Loved the unique cocktails. Disappointed that there was no tap beer. Guacamole and homemade chips delicious. Tacos and Enchiladas also awesome. They make their own corn tortillas. Menu is small so selections not great especially if you're looking for some vegetable dishes.

I had high hopes. Especially being right next door to Siena Tavern and the restaurant of a TOP CHEF participant. But sadly, we left super disappointed. This place will end to being great with tourists, but unless they rethink their prices and quality, locals will quickly move on to the other amazing places in the city. Food was mediocre, service was fine but not spectacular and the experience was sub par. Best thing we had was the kale and radish salad, which is more telling considering what the place bills itself as.

Had dinner here a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised. Great space with a fun vibe and some nice finishes to the restaurant's interior. Our server was wonderful and quite helpful with decision making. The food was quite good, not the best Mexican food that I've had, but pretty top notch. Cocktails were fun and inventive. Overall I'd recommend this spot for either a night out with friends or a date. Try the mushroom tacos, scallops and of course guac if you drop by.

Great food, great atmosphere, wonderful servers and good value!! Barrio was a great choice for our party of six. Our server Anita was very helpful and attentive! She recommended wonderful choices for us! The fresh corn side dish was very tasty and the homemade guacamole was perfect! Many of the dishes are shareable, so just ask your server if you want to split an entree. Will definitely return to Barrio the next time we are in Chicago!!

I took my young adult children here for Sunday Brunch and had a fabulous time! The atmosphere was fun, the Mexican food was unique and very tasty, and the service was tops. Ask for Tinson, a stylish and affable waiter, who bent over backwards to insure we enjoyed our visit, including keeping our bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary's flowing.

Great service and delicious food. Our server, Eve, was engaging and attentive, and took the time to explain our menu options. The staff was accomodating to our baby in a stroller, allowing us to pull the stroller right up to the table. Everyone was helpful and friendly. The fajitas came out literally on fire (which was a cool visual) and everything was delicious. Highly recommended.

Nice sophisticated Mexican influences menu. Very nice drinks. Loved their chopped salad and the mimosas!

Was about to walk by when we decided to pop in. The wait for a table in the dining room was long so we sat at a hightop at the bar. The decor is really nice and the DJ is great. I️ loved the music. I️ ordered the avocado toast and my husband ordered the Barbacoa tacos. Loved my toast although the poached eggs were a little over cooked. Tacos were good but arguably over priced at 16.00. Yes, there were three tacos but there was nothing else on the plate. I️ also wanted salsa but didn’t want to pay 5.00 for one kind. So...overall, this is a good place with a great vibe, just a little overpriced. Would definitely go back.

Really enjoyed our dinner here! Two members of our party had food allergies, one with Celiac and one dairy free. Upon greeting, our server asked about allergies and immediately began answering questions with the allergy in mind. They have a dedicated frier for the tortillas which made the Guacamole (table side and amazing) Celiac/Gluten friendly, the corn tortillas made the tacos safe as well! Pricing was reasonable, the interior is classy and the atmosphere relaxed. Highly recommend if you're looking for great food, friendly staff and especially if you have special allergy concerns.

We had dinner on the sidewalk terrace of the Barrio. Service was friendly and reasonably quick. Nice cocktails. Good revisited Mexican food with over average quality. Nothing exceptional, but recommendable for an evening with colleagues.

We were walking the dog looking for a restaurant with outdoor seating and pets allowed. They even have a menu for dogs! The food is great--much better than usual Mexican fair.

My friend went into anaphylactic shock and they did nothing. Unfortunately I have to leave a poor review because my friend is allergic to seafood and the waiter gave her chips that were fried with fish even after we mentioned the allergy multiple times. I understand there is a risk that she takes eating there, but we were ensured multiple times that she would be okay, but after eating one chip she went into anaphylactic shock and had to use her epipen. She had to spend $500 on another epipen, uninsured. As a restaurant, they have the responsibility to keep people safe, or be honest if they aren't capable of doing so. This did not happen. They didn't compensate for her troubles and our weekend trip was almost ruined, with my friend feeling horrible for the next few days. We were not treated well. Please don't go there if you have allergies, or maybe just refrain in general.

SOLID! Food's good to decent. The Skirt Steak Tacos were overdone, fried to a crisp and not good. The Chicken el Pastor was good. Swapped for Salsa Verde, which had a nice kick, instead of the Rojo. Couldn't finish after the serving of freshly salted and fried chips and Guacamole. SO GOOD! Loved the Pico de Gallo on top of the Guac versus mixed in. Good twist. We give 5-stars for our Bartender Matthew!!!!! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Respectful, attentive, professional (unlike his colleague, who saw us standing, waiting to have our area cleaned and be seated but stared at us, IGNORED us, STAYED STARING & refused to clean the place setting so we could be seated...altho, he had JUST accommodated the couple seated next to us, who were there simultaneously at the exact same time! Matthew saw the poor exchange, greeted us, immediately came around, cleared and cleaned our area swiftly and served us with eagerness,) and was friendly, attentive, thorough, kind and extremely humble. He was a REFRESHING contrast to the other bartender we had just experienced. The drinks were POPPIN! The Mango Hibiscus Margarita (neat) with a Tajin rim and the SuBourbon Night. The Hostess stated, we could have a table if we had a reservation or be seated at the bar. We didn't have a reservation and thankfully, seats became available at the bar immediately. Interesting, there were NO parties seated at any of the inside tables for the 2.5 hours we were there. Another patron came up to order from the bar and the exchange went: Bartender ~ Your Server will gladly place your order and asked the patron did he have a reservation? Patron ~No. Bartender ~ That's why you don't have a Server. The Patron had just took one of the empty tables. Again, no one was seated at any of the tables within our time frame. The Bartender (the amazing Matthew) took care of the wayward patron though. This place gets VERY crowded, as it's in the heart of River North (just saying it makes you feel VERY GoT, like you're from House Stark.) There's a resident DJ, who kept the place pumping with House, Techno & EDM. They do have a nightclub on the opposite side of the restaurant. Overall, a perfect spot for some late night fare and libations to wash the week's workload away.

A group of us are hear for brunch. It was a plated brunch rather than a buffet. Our server Tinson was good because he had a pleasant personality and seemed genuinely interested in our satisfaction. The restaurant was loud because of the music being played. There is a DJ who played a variety of songs. The diners also contributed to the noise level. All the tables inside and outside were filled with people having a good time. The food was not the typical Mexican fare. I tried the Adobo Fried Rice which was quite good. The crispy pork belly and the fried egg were great complements to the fried rice. Someone else had the Chicken Sandwich which was very good. I tried the Guava Mimosa which was delicious. They offer bottomless mimosas as an option.

(Last visited 7/25/2021.) Still in Chicago for the weekend, but sadly, it's almost over! What better way to end it than with a boozy brunch! Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on West Kinzie Street downtown is this gem. It has such a beautiful sidewalk presence with it's big outdoor patio section and elegant entrance way. Once inside you're just immersed in higher class of décor. Things look soft, they flow well, the music is pumpin' and I just feel at home in here! We had a party of 6 (reservations are highly encouraged) and were sat in a beautiful, comfortable rounded booth that fit all of us without a problem. Service: Sydney took care of us and she was excellent. She was sweet, safe, funny and just made our experience a grand one. The mimosas never stopped flowing and we all know that's what's most important! Lol. Food: Obviously, we're here for the bottomless mimosas and they did not disappoint! They weren't super juicy and was PLENTY strong! You can also switch flavors at will! I can't remember all of the flavors, but there were at least 4 so that you don't get tired of drinking the same thing over and over! For food I went with the Mushroom & Kale Omelet, then added lobster because I'm extra. Lol. It was deliciously lobster-y, but you really can never get enough lobster. On top was a creamy sauce that complemented it well then there was a potato hash served right alongside of it. The omelet was deliciously seasoned, light and didn't have me feeling weighed down. Value: The base omelet was $15.00 which comes with the potatoes, but it's an additional $6.00 to add lobster. Y'all know how expensive lobster is, so you can imagine how much of it they gave me in the omelet. The bottomless mimosas were $30.00 a piece. That's a bit steep, but we were able to drink and drink and drink. Bring you big wallet for this place. In conclusion, if I lived in Chicago, you could find me here OFTEN. I loved everything about this place and look forward to my next visit so that I can check out another part of the menu! If you made it this far in the review, I appreciate you reading. Please do me a favor and head on over to "The Hungry Road" on YouTube and subscribe! My channel features a lot of food, car and exclusive shoe related content! Help me grow! Thank you so much!

I loved the outside dining area. It appears to be a Mexican restaurant but the menu does not look like real Mexican food. I ordered the carnitas with rice but, tasted more like Chinese food. The guacamole and chips appetizer are not the best. My husband asked if the enchiladas were spicy, the waitress said no but, when tasting it, the sauce is spicy; Very misguided for us. The drinks were average. The waitress handed us the check without us asking for it, as soon as we finished eating; and we wanted to order dessert. But the atmosphere outside was terrifying.

We met our daughter who lives in the city here last weekend. She had been wanting to try it. But overall, we were all underwhelmed. Prices are relatively high for lunch and most everything seemed to taste remarkably similar. Lots of acidic, strong almost barbecue taste to the Tacos de la Bodega, Eggs Benedict (full of onions) etc. The drinks(Mango Margarita with Hibiscus etc.) were just ok. Order of salsa and chips comes with a very small, indistinguisable pico de gallo that was basically lots of onions and tomatoes with no finesse. Someone was spinning records and that part was great. Our server was humorless and only had interest in the tables buying more drinks at brunch.

went for brunch and sat outside. Interesting menu. everyone enjoyed their food. vibrant scene. excellent service

So happy we went back a second time as our waitress Daniella really knew her way around the menu and helped us order the house specials. My guest and I were blown away by the food. Everything from our appetizers to our main entrees and drinks were bursting with flavor and so fresh. Daniella suggested the octopus tacos; while we were hesitant to try this she assured us this is what they are known for and she was not wrong! My guest isn't even a seafood lover and she enjoyed this fish throughly! Would suggest everyone to order these.. We ordered the burrata and cornbread for appetizers but we couldn't decide which one was our favorite appetizer as they were equally amazing and devoured within seconds! I can't wait to come back and order the ring around the rose drink again! Def understand the hype on our second time around. Want to thank the staff at Barrio for outstanding customer service!!

We started with the guacamole which was fantastic with flavors and different ways you can have it prepared. The serving staff could not have been more receptive, since we were with a person who was on a very restrictive diet, they were great. The fish tacos were fresh and tasty and were more than enough for lunch. A great place to meet people or to bring a date.

Went on Saturday night around 9:00pm. The restaurant was very busy and full of attractive people mid 20's to mid 30's. We waited for about 20 minutes before being seated. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, it's trendy, certainly a nice place for a date night with your partner or to hang with friends. It was very loud so we requested a table al fresco and they were able to accommodate this request. We had some guac, a salsa trio with chips, a chopped salad, two very large scallops and some tacos. The quality was very good, small portions and pricey but understandable as they are trying hard to make this a go to place.

True. Order a drink neat and they charge $3.00 - supposedly they add more alcohol. Small pour. Not really Mexican. Can't hold a candle to many others in Chicago. Food mediocre at best. The best thing was the manager Kristin who took several charges off our bill. Hopefully it still has kinks to work out. If not ....

First of all we had the three salsa which all were amazing, especially the Habanero salsa! Second I ordered Carne Asade in lettuce leaves. The steak was seasoned to perfection and so tender. Last but not least we had a very attentive waitress which made the experience even better. This place beats Rick Bailess grill hands down. Highly recommend trying!!

What can I say except save your money. The restaurant is a haven for tourists who do not know any better and are willing to pay $14 for a margarita. Service was poor but the food is the real tragedy here. Everything was off and pricey.The cheapest entree on the menu are tacos and you are required to have 3 of the same kind. Starting around 9:00pm, the music transports you to a club from 2003. Take it from a local and go to Taco Joint or something like Big Star that is far superior in every way.

The atmosphere in this place is spot on, Chef Katsuji came by our table on multiple occasions to make sure everything was going well and to answer any questions we may have had. The staff went above and beyond excellent service. We ended our wonderful dinner with the Churros and what a way to finish the night. The heirloom tortillas made in house and burrata were so delicious. We will back to this fantastic restaurant again.

Had reservations for dinner with another couple. Restaurant was busy but we were seated promptly. Portions were small and pricey. ($12 for 1 cup of guacamole.) Tacos had great flavor but the red snapper was bland. Staff was friendly but overly eager to clear dishes from the table, making us feel rushed. Space was loud enough that it was difficult to carry on a conversation.

I'll be honest - this was not a first choice for dinner. Chicago is weird right now and we just kinda were eating wherever we could get a table. We ultimately picked this place because they have an option for them to order for you, which my husband is ALWAYS wanting servers to do (hes obnoxious). First impression - it is incredibly LOUD. We had a really hard time hearing each other and our server. Between the tables being so close, the loud music, the tvs...it was just all too much. We ordered the "let us order for you!" 3 course + dessert special, and found it odd that we both HAD to order that...he couldn't just do it on his own. The first course was chips and guac - very good. Next were ceviche tacos - and I had jalapeno seeds in mine, so I couldn't really even eat more than 2 bites. Next, chicken tacos - very good, but I had drank so much water and chips trying to get the burning out of my mouth I couldn't eat much :( Finally - the churros were amazing. It cost us $140 for this meal, my husband also got 2 beers. Just so expensive for 2 people to go out.- and the food was not worth that much money. **He highly recommends Mexico Calling as a beer choice!

Went here on a date. Great drinks. Great shishito pepper side. Ordinary food the rest of the way. All very expensive.

Had dinner here sat at the bar solo during a business trip. Beautiful restaurant but the food was very disappointing. I felt that the quality and flavor of the Mexican food was less than you get at a taco stand. Not to mention very expensive. I will not return.

My husband and I came here for lunch based on a recommendation from a friend. I highly recommend the pork belly tacos. The best I've ever had. The staff was very friendly and even brought us a free round of champagne for our anniversary and ice cream that was adorable for my birthday. It was a great spot for lunch and I'm sure it would be great for dinner as well.

Even at a weekday lunch it was easy to see that Barrio is designed for partying. The decor is dark and fanciful with tables and booths that will accommodate large groups, big windows and thumping music in the background. The food is mostly small plate-Mexican with Japanese touches. But you can also get a burger. The food is good, made with high-quality ingredients and carefully prepared. There's outdoor seating for fine weather.

Barrio is a nice Mexican restaurant with decent service on the busy summer weekend I visited. The taco salad with chicken was larger that what's usually served as a "taco salad;" the churros dessert was also good.

BARRIO was an awesome place for us to enjoy our day. Coming from Miami, attending Barrios for a brunch, the food, the atmosphere, the music and the service was impeccable. Celebrating our Birthdays, with Israel (Hialeah) as our server was amazing he made our day what it was, we will definitely be coming back.

Very so-so food. It looks pretty and inviting; it just dull in favor. The spices-which laden all dishes—never married in any given dish. The service was adequate but slow.

I went here with friends for a birthday and had a good time. The La Margarita was delicious and perfect to share, it is about 2.5 glasses. We had two great starters, the burrata and the guacamole. I recommend asking for more of the bread for the burrata, you only get a couple pieces initially. We then had tacos. I had the octopus tacos which was a little fishy and probably wouldn’t order again. But, my friends had the mahi mahi and loved it. Lastly, if you want something fun for dessert, order the Oreo or fruity pebble churro from the to-go shop connected to the restaurant, called bodega.

Our waitress, Anita, was very knowledgeable and friendly. She made wonderful suggestions such as the lamb chops for an appetizer. Mouth-watering delicious! Felt the guacamole was average. The steak tacos were very tasty. The margarita is $22 for 20oz...easy to share with someone. I would have given it a 5 if it wasn't for the price of the meal.

Great Sunday brunch. Plenty of variety for adults and their bloody Mary was fantastic. Food has a little bit of a kick, and not a specific kids menu, but great for adults

The food is always good. Great flavors, well prepared, and served hot from the kitchen. The atmosphere is also very energetic, although a little loud and hard to talk over. We had a great evening, ordered a lot of food for the table to share, but it wasn’t brought out a few dishes at a time to dine. We got everything at once and the table was over crowded with plates. It doesn’t seem like they want people to dine as they are pushing to turn tables quickly.

We came in here for brunch on a Saturday and we loved it!! Their brunch menu has a spin on the usual brunch items which we loved. My husband had he king crab and I had the Benedict and both didn’t disappoint. We loved how they had a dj there making it a super fun atmosphere. If you’re in town, you have to try this whether it’s for brunch or dinner. We hear their dinner menu is amazing as well.

The food here is absolutely immaculate. I got the quesabirria tacos in blue corn and they were so tasty, but I think they taste better in flour tortillas. As far as drinks go, you can’t go wrong with the margaritas. My only qualm is that the service was a little lackluster and we probably would have ordered more drinks if we had the time. For dessert, a nice port wine cleared off what was a delicious dining experience.

Heard good things and theu gar exceeded the expectations. Great custom (mint/ginger) margarita. Guacamole, Pork nachos and Lamb chops were all great. Split Nachos or use for entree

Upscale Mexican in funky atmosphere. Met some friends for dinner and cocktails. It is not a casual place and on the pricier side. It is busy, loud and happening. Interesting cocktails and some good Mexican beers on tap. We had nachos which had beef, hot peppers, beans to start. I found the meat a bit dry. I wanted to have some tacos but they have it so you can only order 3 of one type. They had a chicken pastor but not a meat one. You should be able to mix your tacos! For my entree, I ordered pull pork shoulder in a skillet. It came with pickle onions for the tortilla. Very flavourful. Our server was great. I think Erica was her name.

This place was terrible. Don't order the $120 Tube of margaritas. The entire yard+ tube is filled with ice so you don't get much drink....and the margaritas are terrible. The chips and salsa are terrible. Don't waste your time here as there are so many other great Mexican spots in the city.

First let’s just say the bar here is top notch. Kat, our bartender, was amazing and probably one of the best we’ve encountered in the city. She is very talented! The drinks are perfectly crafted. Try a “last word”! We ordered the chicken al pastor which was really good and I’d highly recommend. For desert we had the churros which were hot and crispy with that warm doughy inside served with 3 dippings, caramel, vanilla cream and chocolate ganache. Really fun place to eat with super friendly staff and outstanding service!

We were lucky enough to dine at Barrio for a date night. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. All of the margaritas were fantastic - especially the mango hibiscus and apple cider. Guacamole was excellent. Both the short rib and ancho brick chicken were top notch. We finished our meal with 2 scoops of ice cream - mexican chocolate and cinnamon toast crunch - very tasty! Not a cheap meal, but excellent service, food, and drinks! Highly recommend.

I’ve been here several times for cocktails. Loved them every single time. Yesterday was my first dining experience and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Our server Zach was always on top of everything. Service was on point! The Chef here is phenomenal! We started with Pineapple Dragon Fruit Guac and Tune Poke. Both superb! We each drank two Mezcal drinks which is my favorite Tequila. We recommend them highly. Then we ordered the deconstructed tacos. Pork Belly and Beef. We ended dinner with the King Horchata that had a Churro inside! Yum!

DO go here! The food is outstanding. The famous executive chef came out and personally checked on us. Loved the duck nachos! Patron margaritas are unmatched! I can't wait to return again!

We came to Barrio to celebrate a bachelorette party. The service was great! The food was delicious! The atmosphere was fun! Get the brisket tacos!

Good ambiance, but a bit expensive. Do try their pineapple-dragon fruit guacamole. It is really good. Plenty of seating available.

As might be expected, this new place has a great vibe, lots of energy, and very interesting food, Mexican with attitude. With the emphasis on small plates, there are good opportunities for a party of 4 or more to try a number of different tastes. For my ap, I had one of the best pieces of octopus I've ever eaten, and my SO's crab taquitos had the rare quality of being able to actually taste the crab. There are few larger entrees, but we stayed with tacos. My pork belly ones were beautifully seasoned. The sleeper here is the desserts: extraordinary only begins to describe the classic churros. Service is good, if a little frantic. Drinks are good-sized, and several of our party liked the house margarita.

Went here for lunch after we landed. The food was very good and the drinks were excellent. The place is very chic and the decor was stunning. This would be a fun place to come for dinner.

The menu is pretty limited so we stuck to a bunch of stuff to share between the 6 of us. The guacamole trio was good as was the ceviche trio but the chips were the star...amazing and homemade. The lobster quesadilla was disappointing with just a little lobster on the dude and no lobster flavor in the quesadilla. Wings were good and tacos were great! The margaritas were amazing and the hit of the table, especially the cucumber one. Desserts were rich bit delicious. Service was a bit slow but very friendly. Make reservations as it’s a busy area.

Fantastic waitstaff. The octopus tacos were fantastic and also the guacamole and chips. The drinks are strong and good too. A little bit noisy but this restaurant is hopping!

Delicious guacamole prepared table side. About the best I’ve ever had! Margaritas were delicious as well. Food was very good - we got steak fajitas and the beef was very high quality and delicious and full of fresh delicious grilled vegetables. Prices were typical for downtown Chicago. Not a bargain, but this is Chicago and this is fine Mexican food - not Taco Bell. We walked to the restaurant from our hotel, so I can’t speak for parking. We got a very spacious rounded booth along the wall, not a table in the middle of the dining area. It was relatively quiet and very comfortable. Lovely atmosphere. They call it Modern Mexican. We did make a reservation so we were immediately seated when we walked in. I would recommend that. Truly the only complaint was the slow service. We waited for everything - more chips, to order, drinks and then more drinks, the check. We were in no particular hurry, so this wasn’t the end of the world for us, but it was annoying given how many staff were busily everywhere. And, if you ARE in a hurry, it might be more than annoying. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend.

Nice big windows, plenty of seats outside if the weather is cooperating. We ate at the bar because it was very busy but received good service. The QUESO FUNDIDO was really good but could’ve used a few more tortillas. I had the SKIRT STEAK tacos and wasn’t disappointed, the steak was very tender.

Wow...mix of 2 worlds. There was a mess up with the food. Paige was so apologetic and so kind. Kirsten came and took care of the situation with a smile. Both great employees that handled issues head on. As a person in hospitality, these are the types of people I want on my team.

YUM. Came here with a group for dinner and our server was fantastic. We ordered tons of stuff on the menu and dined family style. A few must haves: 1. Grilled Octopus 2. Pork Nachos 3. Cornbread (not gluten free but everyone else loved it) 4. Pork Belly tacos 5. Lamb chops Lots of gluten free options and I left stuffed. They also make a perfect skinny margarita. Looking forward to going back!

Barrio 65 W. Kinzie St., 312-940-9900, barriochicago.com First visit ever. Mexican, well sort of. It has tacos with octopus, yes, that’s right, octopus. This is not any typical Mexican place. You can have chips (fries) with togarashi (a Japanese capsicum) and cotija (like the Mexican town where it originated). This is a big restaurant (210+ seats) and destined to be bigger in influence. It’s totally informal and welcoming. Not cheap eats, but worth the money. Try it.

The service my group received was top notch. The server was knowledgeable, prompt, and friendly. He came around enough to meet our needs but not too often we felt overwhelmed. We had the cornbread and guacamole flight to start. The cornbread was so delicious! It had the perfect amount of sea salt, butter, and cheese. Each guacamole in the flight had their own signature flavor, which were all quite tasty; however, I think we would have been content with just ordering the traditional. We all ordered tacos for our meal - steak and grilled octopus. We were a bit thrown off by the tortillas color, texture, and taste. We probably would have opted for the flour tortilla option had we known what macienda heirloom corn tortillas were. But, the steak and octopus had delicious flavors and were cooked to perfection. For dessert, we all shared the cinnamon churros. It was served with chocolate, cinnamon, and dulce de leche to dip. I was really looking forward to trying these - it was actually the reason I chose this restaurant but I was a bit disappointed by how intensely sweet they were. Their saving grace was how perfectly cooked they were, but maybe it was cinnamon overload. Finally, we enjoyed 3 rounds of drinks. Each drink we ordered was delectable! My favorites were Hot Mezz and their Classic Margarita. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant and again the service was great, so I'd definitely return and give it another try sometime.

Visited this restaurant 2 couples back in the winter and they made us wait over 1 hour for our table.. we were dissappointed and send a complaint to the Manager Pepe who called and invited us back with all paid for a full dinner another day. The quality of the Food, great ambiance with a DJ ( not high enough to carry a conversation ) and service has been fantastic in each subsequent visit that Barrio is now one of our favorite places to go !

Overpriced Mexican food:/ Went in here with high expectations and left with an empty wallet. The food didn’t taste authentic. We ordered a bunch of food to try since you can’t mix and match options, the waiter suggested the duck carnitas, they were a real downer in my eyes. The entire table didn’t even eat more than one bite of their duck carnitas and couldn’t even fathom trying another bite; the waiter noticed this and told us it was a new menu item. He asked what we thought of the dish and we told him honestly we really disliked it. Normally most restaurants would comp this dish; they did not. The chicken al pastor was probably the best dish we had and even that was mediocre. We left with a $250 tab for three people. Save your money, tons of cheaper alternatives in the city that are much tastier!

Arrived approx. noon on a Wednesday - had no problem getting a table to 3 (business lunch). Server was very helpful offering recommendations to those of us who had not visited previously. We had the traditional guac and chips. And the cornbread with agave sea salt butter which was heavenly (coming from a TX girl who is prett familiar with good/bad cornbread). I ordered the chicken al pastor taco bowl which was very flavorful and a ton of food (after having cornbread and guac/chips).

Came here with a group of friends for brunch on a Saturday morning. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes and it was more than just deliciously fantastic but a generous serving size as well. Also, I highly recommend that you treat yourself with the bottomless blood orange mimosas, your day will be enhanced and much better off because of it. In addition, I have to mention our server, Cortez defined our dining experience. Very friendly and inviting personality that made our visit so much more fun. I highly suggest you ask to be seated in his section. He's the type of guy you'd want to hang out with afterwards.

Came here with my girlfriends for Saturday brunch and it was fantastic! We got the guacamole flight to start and each one was DELICIOUS. The majority of us also got blood mary's or bloody maria's and they were proper!! My friend and I got the adobo fried rice and we pretty much licked our plates clean. Another got a salad that was almost as big as our table and she seemed to like it a lot. I unfortunately cannot remember what our other friend got, but we didn't hear any complaints. The host and waiter were great, prices were reasonable, and the decor is very cool; fantastic vibe! We liked it so much we actually considered going back for dinner. PS - the women's room is funky in a fun way! Definitely check in out :)

We had a nice meal here. Was a little worried that it wouldn’t be teen/tween friendly since they do not have a kids menu but they accommodated us just fine...even with our youngest being a picky eater. We all had different types of tacos and they were all great and filling. I could see it being a fun place to go with a group of adults for some drinks with the music and atmosphere they have. But with older kids it was good/okay for a family too. Service was really good. Would recommend.

Went to the opening party on Friday 7/21 and this place is about to take River North's best Mexican cuisine title. The mushroom tacos, large shrimp cocktail, red snapper ceviche and the amazing churro sundae's with fruity pebble ice cream were my favorites. The menu is creative, trendy and extremely flavorful. The restaurant itself has some nice large booths on the side as well as a large bar in case you want to just grab drinks or a happy hour after work. They also have some great original cocktails, one being a Barrio mule (their take on a Moscow mule but with tequila). Also a great wine list with a ton of beers for the craft beer lovers. Give this place a shot on a Friday/Saturday night, you won't regret it!

Got food delivered through door dash. Terrible food, queso was solid, didn’t follow instructions, chips not delivered.

Nice space, great decor, good service and great food. The menu is pricey for Mexican Food, but it is a more sophisticated take on the classics. Overall great meal.

Talk about taking Mexican to the next level. The quality, attention to detail, every taste, smell and appeal has been accounted for here. Nothing tradional at this true Gourmet eatery, you will love every chip, sauce, taco, and torta you get the opportunity to taste.

Came in for a quick solo brunch and sat at the bar. The manager immediately took care of me, making recommendations and answering questions. I got a Naranja juice, which was very tasty, guacamole (🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼), and the pork belly fried rice. I hadn’t been considering the fried rice (since we ladies cut carbs), but it was a perfect recommendation and was absolutely delicious. It was also big enough that some rice and guacamole came home with me. Highly recommend and would definitely return!

The place is appealing to the eye. The ambiance is for for those predrinking for a night out. The food was very meh, it lacked in flavor. The service was terrific and the chef made his way out to engage with the customers and ask if everything was fine. He was very sweet to my daughter. I would say this is americanized mexican food thats not aimed for the mexican palate taste buds but more for the americanized crowd. Very different options and combinations. I'ts not bad but i do not think i would return.

Wonderful food, wonderful service, we will be back! The chicken and churros and the fried rice were both amazing! Queso fundido was a 10/10. Thanks, Doug!

We went there for dinner on a Friday night. The place was packed. We had a lovely meal on the patio. We tried different foods and shared them at the table. The food was really good. The server was busy, but took time, explaining the dishes and the drinks. The paloma was really good.

We hired a private dining room and ate off a set menu. Nothing really stood out. At times you doubted you were eating in a Mexican restaurant. Won’t be going back, sadly as I like Mexican food, just not there!!!

I'm not sure if anything was a fusion, it was either Mexican or slightly Japanese. Food was not tasty at all. Service was scarce & hasty. My friend got a Coca-Cola which was delivered 30 minutes later all water down. She then asked for a replacement and explained why. The second one never came. Drinks were sub par.

We went to Barrios and we asked the receptionist if they could modify things for people with food allergies. One of our party has severe fish allergies. We were told yes. When the waiter came by we reminded him of our friend's severe allergies. He said no problem. We specifically stated that oil used in frying of fish can cause a severe reaction. They once again stated that they are very concerned with people with allergies and no problem. We ordered our food but when our friend started eating she started feeling odd and then the manager came out and said that the chips had been fried in the fish fryer. She sent into anaphylactic shock and she had to administer her Epipen and almost died. What was the company's response? They comped her meal and then after multiple contacts offered her a gift card to the restaurant. WOW. You can tell a lot about a company when things go bad. She does not have insurance so she had to pay for her own Epipen. Do not go to this restaurant!!

The place is ok for casual dining but definitely not for a business dinner. When making reservations for a private room we were given impression that they could handle a business dinner. But from my experience they would be fine with a business holiday party but not a formal dinner meeting. Just beware when deciding to use this place for a business function. Having written this, the good was actually tastey but service meh.

I saw this place at my hotels new (W Hotel) Place is really cool. Very nice vibe and bartender was very attentive. The place is great to hangout, enjoy some drinks and have a great guacamole. I tried the sweet potato guacamole and the crab taquitos. Absolutely loved them. For drinks I had the Sophia and rhythm is a dancer, both great tequila drinks, the first one is on the sweet end, the second one was more sour. I hope you enjoy!

Met with friends and this stylish Mexican restaurant we chose because it was between our hotel, the Gwen, and the JW Marriott. Our waiter was excellent. Knowledgable, friendly never rushed us. High mark. Three of us ordered the variations of tacos and the other ordered the nightly special of a porchetta entree. All were excellent. The music might have been set at an "8" during our 6:30 pm reservation. It needed to be a "6". There may have been a speak overhead. I was not the only person struggling to converse. Margarita were about $16 a glass, the tacos were about $19 for three, the porchetta special was $35.

Very busy spot on a Sunday morning, so we sat at the bar. Short rib hash was outstanding. We'll be back.

As a Mexican I personally do not mind adding unique twists to Mexican food. This place was super cool and the food was good, I really enjoyed the array of guacamole that we had and also my octopus tacos were delicious. Only reason why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because we did eat at other Mexican restaurants with a twist that were better, still a great place!

We stopped in for drinks only. The bartenders were friendly and fun. The drinks were good. The atmosphere was nice. We would have stayed longer but they were closing for a private event. They were nice about it & it didn’t bother us. Would definitely like to try the food next time I’m in town.

We tried Barrio on a whim for a light bite. Even though it was packed we were able to find a seat at the bar where the neighboring diners were friendly and clearly enjoying their food. The wait staff was extremely helpful in suggesting menu items and the suggestions were delicious. The atmosphere is lively and friendly. The food isn't cheap but you'll leave full and happy for the experience. Would highly recommend!

The service was excellent! The cocktails were great. The guacamole and chips were delicious but everything else was a bust. Food that should have been hot was lukewarm. Salsas were sickly sweet. Food was slapped on plates with no thought to presentation. And nothing tasted good enough to eat. The brussel sprouts tasted burned. We left most of the five things we tried.

Just had brunch here with my brother/business partner. We had an awesome time and the food was phenomenal! We were looking for a solid brunch option in River North and Barrio did not disappoint. They offer bottomless mimosas for a great price and the chipotle hollandaise is something I want to put on everything now. Jeffery, the bartender, was on his game and was fun to chat with before it got busy. I highly recommend this place!

Was very disappointed as the food was mediocre and portions were very small. Paid for salsa that was served in tiny solo cups to share for table. Tacos were served with just meat and no trimmings. No sides to accompany the taco dinner. Sides are extra and fried rice tasted like chinese food. Felt more like a sports bar with all tvs on walls and not a mexican vibe.

The bar area and the inventive drinks are the real draw here. The bartender was extremely friendly and actually crafted the cocktail. And the several I had were outstanding. The decor is darkly lit and cool. But as if on cue, the crowd seemed to clear out at 11 pm. The food is very good here - fresh ingredients throughout, but the menu just didn't do it for me. I will have to try it again and I do recommend this place though.

Three of us ate at Barrio in August. The place was packed and we were only able to get a table through a connection. Clearly this restaurant has become very popular in a short time. The quacamole/crab appetizer was delicious. I asked the server if the chips were gluten free and he said he would check. Out came the chef who said that they would substitute with fresh blue corn tortillas for me and they were delicious. We each had different tacos for our entrees - grilled octopus, fish and barbacoa . I had the Barbacoa and can say it was one of the best I have ever tasted. The meat must have been cooked low and slow because it was unctuous and delicious. My other dining companions stated that their meals were delicious as well. For dessert we shard a bowl that included mixture of tropical fruit juices and tequila that had been transformed into an icy bowl of goodness - kind of like a granita but better. This is hard to describe other than to say it was the perfect ending to the meal. It was refreshing and light with just enough sweet to satisfy my sweet tooth.

We had plans on our wedding anniversary to spend the day downtown through dinner. Our daughter, who works in the loop, suggested Barrio for a great lunch (but one that's not too filling), then we could go onto the RiverWalk, all before our dinner reservations. Barrio was a brilliant idea: gorgeous place, fantastic food, & Johnny K was the most wonderful server - super knowledgeable, genuine, unfussy, & attentive... Most of all, he's a great listener & takes comments in the most constructive way that exceeded our expectations. What we had: Octopus Tacos - delish, perfectly cooked! Loved the coconut green rice, esp few drops of ghost pepper sauce on it... Mahi Mahi Tacos - hubby loved it w/black beans Choc Mole Cake - super moist, wonderful, even hubby who's not a fan of chocolate liked it. The cinnamon ice cream went well. Chips w/Salsa - this salsa is more like chutney & sweet - I added squeeze of lime & hot sauce for more heat & more complex Cucmuber Jalapena Margarita - soooo refreshing, loved it Moscato - always a good ending Here's why the Customer service was exceptional: Loved my Octopus Tacos which he recommended. However, my side rice never came because, I found out much later, they were out & had to make another batch. I suggested that in such cases, they should have brought out another side (like the readily available Fries) & explain that the ordered side will come out when it's ready, so the customer feels valued. Hubby is allergic to meats & shellfish so I ordered the Mahi Tacos with Black beans side because he loves black beans. I didn't realize the beans had bacon in it & only found out when it came out. Johnny immediately got the kitchen to make us a vegetarian version of the beans & even brought out a large bowl of the green rice. He also got the manager to check up on us to make sure we were happy. Then, he gave us our choice of dessert & drinks for 'the mix ups' & for our anniversary! Johnny was attentive, genuine, humble & relational - we felt heard, cared for, truly valued... What a great experience - our daughter was right about Barrio:) Now we want to try all the other restaurants of DineAmic Group, & spread the good word!!!

Well let me start by saying the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming, the food was good , guacamole amazing 3types and the drinks were good as well , service is friendly and they have this amazing cornbread that is a must have.

We reserved a table at Barrio and I must admit that the atmosphere is really cool. I would take there my girlfriend, if I had one. Im a bit disappointed for the tables we had because we were a bit tight, but the service and food was really great. The shareable cocktails are a very smart idea and the red wine we ordered was just as good as my favorite Italian wine, although it was from California. I recommend vehicle, though it's a typical Peruvian dish, they have a good trio of cevice. Nachos are homemade and must be tried too.

Unique, imaginative food and amazing service. The food was delicious and the cocktails were top notch. The cornbread as a starter was superb and the frozen rosé is just as fun to drink as it is to order. The mushroom tacos were so good I could have ordered more! My husband loved his deconstructed beef tacos and our dog enjoyed his chicken off the Bark-io menu. The tortillas are amazing! Our server, Tinson, was one of the friendliest servers we have ever had - and we have dined all over the world at many restaurants. He was so wonderful to our dog and gave us great recommendations as it was our first time at Barrio. He was attentive and was always checking in on us. In the city, it's hard to find a server who doesn't seem rushed or overworked, but Tinson and the staff were the exact opposite. Definitely give Barrio a try: for their service, for their tacos, and for their dog-friendly patio. Tip: make a reservation as they do get crowded

Our food was great, service was very lacking. We had guacamole, fajitas and the corn side- or was all delicious. The service was lackluster. We waited for about 10 minutes before someone came to our table, then we were there for an hour and a half and saw our waitress once after ordering. We had to ask other servers for boxes, to have our waitress grab our check, etc. We would go back, hopefully have an experience that matches the quality of food.

I very nice place for friends to gather for a nice lunch, or to meet up for a drink outside on the patio and people watch.

Barrio served me and my family some of the best tacos we have ever eaten. The service and drinks were also outstanding. Thank you Barrio for an excellent and delicious time.

Seated for 30 minutes before we flagged someone down to order a drink. Cortez was very helpful took drinks and food order. He wasn’t our waiter, but very helpful. Our “Waiter” popped by halfway through dinner telling us how busy he was, but essentially did not do anything other than bring us a check. Food was cold when it arrived. We had high hopes but it was a no. Cortez was a highlight

Our waiter Cortez was great! He was extremely attentive to our needy party of 6 and very funny. The food was really good. I highly recommend the Mexican Street corn and the Quesabirria tacos. The drinks were good, but the cocktail menu was very small.

Had brunch here in May, as was staying Downtown, food was good but expensive for what it was. Had the Skirt steak and eggs, which was decent. The restaurant was lively and seems a good place to visit on an evening. Staff were friendly.

In town for the night and this place was recommended by a friend of mine. Would've been nice if she would've told me that they frown on those not dressed as if they are going out for an expensive dinner haha. My bf had his grateful dead shirt on and I had a sweatshirt on. They put us outside on the patio close to a garbage can saying it was the only table immediately available. Haha. I wanted to say you mean for those of us not dressed for a 5 star dinner. Food was alright. Chicken was very fatty they could trim it up a little.

So our family of 3 ventures out here for a Thursday night dinner. The restaurant is definitely pumping, we sat outside right under the speakers and definitely felt the party vibe the restaurant is trying to create. The outside seating were a little cramped up, every table that sat down around us had to readjust themselves because it was difficult to get in and out of the seats. The food was interesting. We had the grilled shrimp, ramen, skirt steak tacos, magi magi tacos and the burrata. For dessert we had the churros. The grilled shrimp was tasty, but for $14 you get 2 medium sized shrimp, a bit of a rip off. With the tacos, they were both tasty but wasn't something I would rave on about or come back especially for. The tacos needed fresher acidic notes, it tasted a little on the sweet side. The burrata was good and fresh. As for the ramen, it was good but definitely on a smaller portion side. The churros were probably the biggest portion of the night with 3 long churro circles. Would definitely come back for the atmosphere and maybe a few small plates to eat with a drink but overall the food was average and the portion sizes were on the small side.

We went on a busy Friday night around 7 with no reservations. Much to our surprise we were seated right away, but then I think they forgot about us. We were about to get up and leave but our server Anita appeared apologized about the wait and told us there had been a mix up, so we stayed. We ordered the crab guacamole for an appetizer with the two kinds of homemade chips. It was fantastic. We were both going to order tacos but on the advice of Anita we ordered the steak tacos and the octopus plate. It was outstanding!! I'm so glad we went with her recommendation, she was spot on. To our surprise the manager came out and also apologized for the wait at the beginning and took our first round of drinks off the bill. Something that was totally unexpected and much appreciated. I would definitely recommend a visit.

I throughly enjoyed this amazing restaurant. The food was amazing and the the service was top notch.

My wife and I went to Barrio in late July during their first week of operations. We were very excited to go given the commonalities with Siena Tavern. Our service was fantastic. Very helpful and attentive. Food was ok, but didn’t leave us a strong desire to return anytime soon. We ordered: • Corn Bread – A very pleasant surprise. This was delicious. • Corn & Kale Quesidilla – Good, not great • Beet Salad – Fine, but nothing special • Forest Mushroom Tacos – Felt like it was missing something • Churros – Disappointing With Frontera and Mercadito in the neighborhood, it would be hard for us to choose Barrio over any of those options. Perhaps, that will change with time.

I came here with my family for a dinner on a Saturday night. We had reservations as it was quite busy. Our waitress was very good and had great recommendations...like a tower of margaritas. This must be seen to be believed but is a great option for a fairly large party who like tequila. I had octopus which was delicious. We also got a flight of guacamoles that were all quite tasty. Prices were very reasonable and I look forward to returning.

Y’all. I am in town visiting for a convention, and my friend who lives here gave me three choices. I chose Barrio, and I cannot tell you how happy I am that I did. Our waiter, Carlos, was attentive, patient, knowledgeable, prompt, and friendly. We asked about his recommendations, and he suggested that we eat family style, and helped us chose one thing from each area of the menu to share. We started with guacamole, and then had steak tacos, shrimp tacos, the lobster quesadilla, and the adobe rice with pork. I cannot say in words how delicious it all was. The tastes were layered and just mind blowing. The prices are great for this area of town for sure. We finished with the cornbread. I know - cornbread? For dessert?? Yep! Carlos suggested it, and he was batting a 1000, so we went with it. De-lic-ious!!! I know two things for sure. Barrio has a great waiter in Carlos, and their food is amazing. While I do not live here, I know my friends will be back, and they will be letting others know of their experience!

Great Tacos. Loved the Seafood ones. The prawns were well made. It was crispy and juicy. The service was also good. Would come back.

Fantastic!!! Great service!! Brunch! Try the skirt steak tacos and had a great little kick! The steak and eggs did not disappoint. Get a side a bacon to split! Great uptown location with lots of shopping close by.

Shared some dishes which worked well but it was the dry aged prime tomahawk rib eye that clinched the deal.

Loved the service, the food, the drinks and the people. Have been here a few times and have met the chef twice. Highly recommend for a date or a night out with friends. Love their purple tortillas, their octopus appetizer, their tacos, burgers, sandwiches, just about everything I've tried. The drinks are also amazing from their cocktails to their mocktails. Great experience.

I found many wonderful reviews for Barrio so had to check it out when we were in town. My family of 4 loved everything we got. The guacamole was great and the chips were beyond "just chips". My chilean sea bass was outstanding. The menu selections were very interesting and creative. THe room was lively and our service was good. After 5 days of eating all over Chicago, Barrio had our favorite meal. We will go again

Five of us had dinner here on a Saturday evening. We had a reservation and were seated right away when we arrived. First waitress seemed knowledgeable but then another one took over soon after the first, and she was disinterested and not all that friendly. We had a variety of tacos at the table (red snapper, octopus, barbacoa). The heirloom corn tortillas were not good and overall the food seemed confused by what it wanted to be. We liked the chips and salsa, the cornbread was awesome, and the desserts (churros and cocoa taco) were delicious. But the entrees were really disappointing as was the service, and given how expensive the meal was, we won't recommend.

AMAZING TACOS AND MARGARITAS!!! The skirt steak is the best. Definitely a must try if you’re craving for tacos. Really good atmosphere except our bartender wasn’t too friendly.

Went here after the theatre one evening, as they are open quite late. The were very kind and accomodating, seating us right away with no reservations. The waiter was excellent. The food was very average, however, trying to be trendy with new flavors and drinks, none done extremely well. The prices were high relatively. I would skip this place and go further down the road to Mercadito who has the same fun atmosphere (loud music and exciting), better quality for lower or equal prices, and staff very knowledgeable about the food and drinks.

There is a great vibe at barrio. There is a wonderful bar with great service and we were able to make a reservation for seven within an hour of dining at the restaurant. It certainly was busy and the menu is quite impressive. I would recommend the cornbread for the appetizer and certainly the churro’s for dessert. You can’t make a wrong choice here.

My niece made reservations at Barrio for Sunday brunch. We were originally going to eat on their patio so her dog could join us but it was too hot. From the moment we walked into the restaurant we enjoyed ourselves immensely. 80s music was playing, a World Cup soccer game was showing on the big screens and all of the s workers were friendly. This was the first restaurant all weekend where the server actually introduced herself. Miranda was very patient, explaining some of the ingredients that were not familiar to us. This is one of the few places that have bottomless mimosas for brunch and they were delicious! We got our orders in a timely manner and were not disappointed. We all ordered from the breakfast menu, getting the tacos, the eggs Benedict, the breakfast sandwich and the lemon pancakes. The food was just as described on the menu and was fabulous. When we finished Miranda asked if we were interested in dessert, which we declined. When she brought the bill she also brought us 4 shots of their homemade rumchata-like drink on the House. What a perfect finish to a wonderful meal.

We ordered the grilled octopus tacos and chicken tacos. The octopus was tender and delicious. The Barrio Sunday is a most. Definitely, we are coming back.

We started with the traditional guacamole, which was very typical. I had the mushroom tacos on flour tortillas (I love that they offer flour tortillas and Bibb lettuce as an alternative to the corn tortillas). They were flavorful and all of the components worked together perfectly. A friend had the poblano soup with a small grilled cheese. She liked the soup, but I thought the grilled cheese was really spicy. Another friend had the steak fajitas (liked them), and another, the octopus tacos on Bibb lettuce, which she enjoyed. The Brussels sprouts we shared were really good, as was the corn side dish (I didn't think I'd like it, but it was addictive). The only downside was that the service was quite slow. We asked for more chips, and had to ask again after about 45 minutes. The main dishes and drinks were also very slow coming out.

Brunch on Sunday was AMAZING! We had reservations for 10:30am and got in before the crowd arrived for the day. Our group decided to go with the prefix menu set aside for restaurant week and we were not disappointed. So many excellent options to choose from! Our waitress was such a pleasure to have, as well! She was very willing to help us decide what to order and gave her honest opinions on the menu. I chose the lemon ricotta pancakes to start and the adobo rice after. WOW! While the pancakes were very fluffy and flavorful, the adobo rice was the winner of this meal. The flavor combination and the texture left you not wanting to stop eating. My friend even made the comment she wished she could have this sent to us in Milwaukee, it was THAT good. Long story short, don't hesitate on stopping at this place. You won't be disappointed!

It was very busy on the Friday evening we were there. We had a very personable waiter--Jay. Drinks were good. Guacamole was good, but quite small. The shishito peppers were tasty. The fajitas were good. Stay away from the taco salad. It was all icerburg lettuce. Hardly any black beans, and not sure if there were any poblanos listed either. The chocolate lava cake was quite tasty with the horchata ice cream, but remember to order it in advance.

great food--the 3 salsas were awesome. get the mango salsa! our waiter was nowhere in sight for most of the meal, so we had to bother other servers to help us. but he did try to rush out with a dessert menu halfway through our meal.

We only had drinks with chips and salsa here. The house margarita was absolutely the best I’ve ever had. Highly recommend!

I went to Barrio for a girls night out dinner. We LOVED Barrio. We had the funniest and most attentive server, who gave us great recommendations. The whole staff was very attentive and really friendly. The food was great. For appetizers we had the burrata, guacamole, and cornbread. I recommend all three, but if you have to pick one, I say cornbread. For our meal, we chose family style tacos. We selected the whole red snapper, pork belly, and duck. All three were amazing, and the fish was huge! For desert we shared the Sunday. There were six of us, and it was enough. The cocktails were also very good. I plan to return to Barrio, very soon.

I walked by this wonderful place & thought it was closed, Kayla opened the door for me & let me in. La Bodega is next to The Barrio Restaurant/ La Bodega is a new concept which works for me. I ordered 2 Mini Breakfast Tacos that were so flavorful & fresh followed by 2 Churros, one had S'Mores flavoring & the other had the sugar glaze. Once I started eating these delectable treats my mouth started having a party leading to my stomach. They were a burst of textures, sweetness, & crunchiness. I followed this with a tasty cup of coffee. I cannot ask for anything more. I received impeccable service from Monixa, Kayla, & Caroline who went out of their way to welcome me. I recommend LaBodega for tourists & residents. You don't know what you are missing until you have tried them.

I’ve been here a few times. Excellent food!! Had their octopus tacos.... will go back again just for those... and the white habanero salsa... wow!!! Get the guacamole flight and salsas....

This is not your father's taco joint. Barrio is very upscale and the food and drinks are worth the upper-end price, In a town where there seems to be a taco place every other block, Barrio's Mahi Mahi and Skirt Steak Tacos stand out, Complimented by Red Snapper Ceviche, superb Guacamole de la Casa and dos Las Margaritas Patron Silver shaken table side--it was a night to remember.Steven B, King, manager, also stopped by to make sure everything was okay. Okay indeed and we'll be back to try the Crispy Whole Red Snapper for Two.

Went here for a birthday celebration dinner with family. Have to say for a first time visit, it was a good one. The blend of Mexican and Asian was interesting. It was packed. Tuesday nite no less. Food was good. Flavorful. Interesting combinations. Liked the tacos. I think the pork belly versions were voted the best of our table. The menu is a little confusing but all in all it offered a good variety. It is loud. Service was ok not great. There was a problem getting drinks (beer and coke??) and there was a serious lag between apps and entrees but it worked out. Liked the space. We'll be back.

We took clients and sat outside for lunch. Helped along by beautiful weather, everything turned out great. The house guacamole was well worth a try. Two people raved about the mahi sandwich. One got fish tacos and one pork belly. You get two small tacos with your dish and nothing on the side. If you don't mind eating light your will definitely enjoy the taste.

Better than expected! The drinks are innovatve and unique. Service is knowledgable and attentive. The food.....incredibly flavorful. The black bean side is beyond - beyond in flavor. The Taco Salad was delicious, as were the octopus tacos. The molten chocolate moĺe cake with cinnamon toast ice cream was over the top!

Barrio is the perfect spot for a group get-together. The menu is nearly all small plates, so you can try many different things. I would recommend trying the homemade salsa, just be aware, some are quite spicy. The cocktail menu was impressive, both of the Mezcal drinks were tasty and unique. Be sure to save room for dessert, the churros are delicious. I was impressed by the staff as well, as our server clearly knew then menu well and made some great recommendations.

I live in Colorado and made a reservation while on a business trip to Chicago. I really wanted to like this restaurant because I really liked following Chef Katsuji on Top Chef. First, the appetizers I had were very good but we didn’t make it past the appetizers because our server was terrible. All he did was hang out at the hostess desk and flirt with the hostess. Our waiter was a complete amateur and had no business working in an upscale restaurant in downtown Chicago. It was so bad we ended up leaving after appetizers and walked down the street to have dinner at another place. It was so disappointing that I did get to try the deconstructed tacos.

Service very non attentive, waiter moved on after taking one order without checking if I would have liked anything else. Cutlery was given when I asked so I kind of expected more attention on basic things . Food ok nothing special. Had tuna tacos and they were good and steak tacos were hugely disappointing flavor was not moreish and did not like the tortilla that they were wrapped in. Churros were good. Overall not enough for me to come back again or recommend .

Before coming to Chicago my husband did some research of good restaurants close to our present hotel The Kensey. Maybe I had high expectations and was hoping for an authentic Mexican restaurant and the reality was a little disappointing for me. My husband had the Mezcal Beef ribs and he really enjoyed them. I was indecisive between the Taco Salad and the Ancho rubbed chicken and I settled for the later. I wish I had chosen the salad as I saw other customers order it and it looked inviting. My chicken was ok but nothing outstanding. My husband ordered the Sunday for dessert and it was outrageously large. Without exaggerating it was couple of pounds of ice cream with bananas and other goodies. It is a dessert to be shared between 4 people at least. I am not a big fan of huge portions and appreciate quality over cuantity. If big portions are your thing then you will love it. Our waiter was friendly and having dinner on the patio was lovely. Nice to see dogs welcome in the patio. The chicken I did not finish had a happy ending as I shared it with a beautiful yellow dog that devoured it.

I’ve restaurant and atmosphere. We walked in without reservations and we’re able to get a table. (Mud day). Our server Tj was really great. I had a bloody Mary which was delicious. It was going so fast! I also got the octopus tacos and they were delicious. We sat outside and were able to people watch. It was a nice experience.

Very large portions. My daughter said the margarita was top-notch. We could have shared an entree and still had food leftover. Excellent waitstaff.

I’m a Mexican ‘Chilango’ living in Houston and had high expectations for this place after it was featured by Oscar @ La Capital Youtube channel. So we planned to visit during our stay in Chicago for NYE. I made a reservation through Opentable a day before, and had lunch there on Dec 31st@3pm, maybe not the best timing, but had no option. I specified in the reservation I had 2kids and didn’t want a high table, anyway 1st thing hostess does is to give me a high table... no problem I explain and we get a booth behind the bar. Lunch menu is very basic, I was expecting to try more elaborate dishes but its a basic selection of tacos and other pseudo-mexican food. We ordered the grilled octopus (we try it every place we go), steak tacos (aka arrachera) and side of esquites. We tried to order tequila in bandera style (shot of tequila + shot of lime juice + shot of sangrita) and both waiter and latin barman had no idea about it... really? In a ‘mexican’ restaurant... well... ok Classic Margarita and Negra Modelo will be. Octopus- when ordering the octopus we asked if it was served with tortillas or chips aside, answer is ‘no’ but they can bring some, we accept. We get the octopus and no signs of tortillas or chips, we ask again, but octopus is starting to cool down so we start eating it. Soft and chewy w/ good flavor: its very nicely done... but the sauce or creme at the bottom is very basic, I’d say is just mayonnaise + chipotle. Only 2 octopus tentacles + a bunch of small potatoes and no tortillas or chips ... I wish I had ordered the octopus tacos instead. Chips arrive too late (and no tortillas) as octopus is already over. The Chips: I thought I’g get dried/fried tortilla chips= real totopos! but it was just the same stuff you get on every texmex restaurant. Steak tacos. Best part of the lunch, beef was good and tortillas are Amazing. This are blue tortillas with a twist but equally good, congratulations on this one. Too much garnish on top of the taco... closer to the american version of tacos than the original stuff. Esquites. Well this was a pity... I can only say this are not how esquites should look and taste. Very unfortunate, basically this tastes too sweet (because of sweet corn of course) but the cheese and rest of ingredients don’t help at all. Bottom line: I can say this is an upscale/chic/nice ‘mexican’ style restaurant, but the target audience is really American public that wants to go above the infamous tacobell/chipotle/texmex; if that’s your case you’ll probably enjoy. But as a Mexican I just have different standard and my expectations were higher.