Best Girls Night Out Mexican Restaurants in Chicago
44 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Mi Tocaya Antojería
Elevated tacos and an agave-heavy cocktail list in a lively cantina setting.
Notable Picks
8.8
Bárbaro Taquería is a Humboldt Park-border taqueria and cantina where a wide taco list, seasonal specials, and an agave-forward bar program draw steady crowds. It bridges neighborhood casual and going-out energy, with everything from birria and pastor tacos to breakfast chilaquiles and pozole on a rotating menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Tacos, Birria Tacos, Esquites
What Makes it Special: Elevated tacos and an agave-heavy cocktail list in a lively cantina setting.
8.7
A destination-level Mexican kitchen that leans into deep, layered sauces and composed plates rather than quick taqueria hits. The moles are the move—built for slow, intentional dining with cocktails and a full meal arc.
Must-Try Dishes:
Borrego En Mole Negro, Uchepos Gratinados, Sopa Azteca
What Makes it Special: Mole-driven, sauce-forward cooking built for a full sit-down experience.
Cocina Tarascas is a long-running Lincoln Park standby (since 1998) where sizzling fajitas, burritos, and strong margaritas anchor a lively tequila-focused dining room. A broad menu, weekend Mexican breakfast, and a busy Clark Street patio make it a default choice for groups wanting classic sit-down Mexican with cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Tarasco, Mahi Mahi tacos, Chicken flautas
What Makes it Special: A 1990s-era Lincoln Park fixture with huge platters, strong margaritas, and a busy patio.
Federales’ Logan Square outpost is a sprawling tequila-and-taco bar built for rowdy happy hours, with ice-shot bell ringing, a retractable-roof space, and a big patio. Tacos, nachos, and margaritas move fast enough to serve crowds that treat it as a group meet-up spot before longer nights out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grande Nachos, Al Pastor Tacos, Chicken Fajitas
What Makes it Special: High-capacity tequila and taco bar with retractable roof and late-night energy.
#5
La Josie
8.6
A modern Jalisco-leaning room that shines when you order in a tight taco-and-shareables lane, backed by a deep tequila and mezcal program. The kitchen’s strongest plays are crispy, rich birria-style bites and bright, acid-forward seafood starters that keep the meal feeling paced instead of heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesa-birrias (beer birria) with consomé, Aguachile verde, Arrachera tacos (skirt steak)
What Makes it Special: Jalisco-forward cooking with a serious agave bar and rooftop energy.
8.6
A polished Magnolia Glen dining room with a full bar where the kitchen leans into classic plates and seafood-accented starters rather than taqueria shortcuts. Locals come for sit-down Mexican dinners that feel like an occasion—order a composed entree, add ceviche or queso, and let the margarita program carry the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada, Shrimp & Tilapia Ceviche, Enchiladas
What Makes it Special: A full-service Mexican dining room with bar energy and composed entrees in Magnolia Glen.
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
An Edison Park dinner spot that leans into a Mexican steakhouse identity—big proteins, composed plates, and a bar program built for lingering. The best experience is treating it like a steakhouse first (one premium cut or arrachera-style order), then layering in shareables to set the table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arrachera (skirt steak), Empanadas, Steak tacos
What Makes it Special: A Mexican-forward steakhouse format with a full evening-drinks rhythm in Edison Park.
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.
8.5
La Catrina is a sit-down Mexican restaurant in the Diversey corridor known for birria, lengua, and other taco plates paired with strong margaritas. The room leans colorful and lively rather than hushed, making it a neighborhood choice when you want a full dinner built around tacos and shared appetizers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos with consomé, Lengua tacos, Queso fundido
What Makes it Special: Colorful full-service spot where birria and margaritas anchor taco-focused dinners.
#10
Mercadito
8.5
Mercadito runs a loud, cocktail-heavy room built around shareable tacos, guacamoles, and ceviches. It’s a staple for pre-club dinners and group outings where guests want modern plates, pitchers of margaritas, and a party-forward River North feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tradicional Guacamole, Pastor Tacos, Ceviche de Camaron
What Makes it Special: High-energy tacos-and-tequila hub with multiple guacamoles and strong drinks.
#11
Baha Restaurant
8.4
A mariscos-forward spot that leans into bold coastal flavors—think bright ceviches, saucy shrimp plates, and seafood that’s meant to be paired with a cocktail. It’s strongest when you order like a table: one chilled starter, one hot seafood main, and keep the drink lane moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aguachile, Ceviche, Salmon
What Makes it Special: Mariscos-driven menu built for ceviche + cocktail pairing.
#12
Bar Sótano
8.4
Hidden beneath Clark Street, Bar Sótano is an agave-focused speakeasy with a serious small-plates kitchen. Mezcal-heavy cocktails meet tlayudas, aguachiles, and bar bites that feel more chef-driven than typical bar food, making it ideal for nights that start with drinks and end as dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black mole tlayuda, Bone marrow esquites, Shrimp and scallop aguachile
What Makes it Special: Mezcal-centric basement bar where inventive Mexican small plates match the cocktails.
#13
Bárbaro Taquería
8.4
Barbaro Taqueria y Cantina brings an agave-forward bar program and polished dining room to a menu of pancita tacos, signature Taco Bárbaro, and modern Mexican snacks. It functions as a neighborhood cantina where cocktails and plated tacos share equal billing, especially for date nights and small-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pancita taco, Taco Bárbaro, Queso fundido
What Makes it Special: Modern cantina marrying serious agave cocktails with creative pancita and carne tacos.
#14
Cantina Rosa
8.4
A dimly lit Hyde Park tequila-and-mezcal lounge built for lingering: tropical-leaning cocktails, a tight food menu, and a room that feels designed for dates and small groups. The move is to treat it like a cocktail bar first—order a couple of agave-forward drinks and one or two snacks—then settle in during the early-evening happy-hour window.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria, Torta (varies by menu), Guava Colada
What Makes it Special: Virtue-adjacent agave cocktail bar with a moody, intimate lounge setup.
#15
Casa Tulum
8.4
Casa Tulum brings a Tulum-inspired, seafood-leaning Mexican menu to the South Loop with beachy decor, cocktails, and a more polished dining-room feel. It’s used for date nights and small groups looking for quesabirrias, ceviches, and composed plates rather than basic combo platters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirrias, Torta Ahogada, Shrimp Ceviche
What Makes it Special: Design-forward Mexican seafood spot where quesabirrias, ceviches, and cocktails are served in a Tulum-inspired room.
8.4
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Happy Hour Hotspots
A high-energy, modern taqueria built for big-flavor plates, loud music, and margarita-led nights out. Go for the taco variety and shareable starters, then lean into the festive room when the weekend crowd kicks in.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Elote (street corn), Churros
What Makes it Special: A party-forward taqueria where tacos and cocktails share the spotlight.
Vibes:
Happy Hour Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Late Night Legends
La Victoria is a high-energy Mexican bar-restaurant where margaritas, DJs, and salsa nights meet a full menu of tacos, fajitas, and brunch plates. Locals use it as a crossover between happy hour pregame, birthday dinners, and late-night dancing in the heart of Logan Square.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles Verdes, Breakfast Tlayuda, House Guacamole
What Makes it Special: Party-forward Mexican spot where happy hour bleeds into DJ nights and brunch.
#18
Amor y Tequila
8.3
Amor Y Tequila is Roscoe Village’s lively Mexican restaurant and bar, pairing a deep tequila list with tacos, mariscos, and shareable appetizers. The colorful room and patio make it a go-to for casual celebrations and cocktail-heavy dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos, Guacamole, Aguachile
What Makes it Special: Tequila-driven bar program matched with a broad menu of tacos and mariscos.
8.3
Barcocina West Town is a modern Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar that stays open as late as 1–2am on weekends, drawing groups for shareable plates, tacos, and margaritas. The lively indoor-outdoor space works as a late-night hang where the energy and drinks are as much a draw as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Queso Fundido, Mahi Mahi Tacos, Pozole Verde Soup
What Makes it Special: Late-night modern Mexican with strong cocktails and a buzzy patio scene.
#20
Barrio
8.3
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Barrio is a sprawling, rustic-industrial space for creative tacos, big-format platters, and a deep tequila list. It leans social and loud, functioning as a go-to for birthdays, office outings, and game-day groups that want shareable plates and approachable flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada, Carnitas Fried Rice, Taco Tower
What Makes it Special: Large-format Mexican spot with build-your-own tacos and strong tequila service.
8.3
A polished West Loop restaurant and bar where scratch-made Mexican plates share space with breakfast burritos, birria-focused dishes, and a serious margarita program. It leans more sit-down than counter-service, giving burrito lovers a chance to pair their wraps with cocktails and small plates in a stylish room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast burrito, Queso birria tacos, Birria ramen
What Makes it Special: Elevated Mexican cooking with craft cocktails and burritos in a design-forward space.
8.3
A high-energy taco pub that’s built for groups and after-work momentum—loud room, fast-moving drinks, and a menu designed for mixing tacos with shareables. The move is to start with queso and keep the taco order focused (two styles max) so the table doesn’t turn into a pile of overlap.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chips & chipotle queso, Al pastor tacos, Carne asada tacos
What Makes it Special: A taco-and-cocktail format that runs like an after-work machine.
#23
Taco Max Cantina
8.3
Taco Max Cantina is a newer Lakeview Mexican restaurant and bar on Halsted where tacos, burritos, and margaritas run late on weekends. The room feels more polished than the typical burrito counter, so it works both for casual dinners and as a pre- or post-bar taco stop when you still want table service and cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor burrito, Fish tacos, Queso fundido skillet
What Makes it Special: A sit-down cantina on Halsted pairing late-running tacos with a full bar.
#24
Taco Maya
8.3
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Family Friendly Favorites
Girls Night Out Approved
Quick Bites Champions
A modern, build-your-plate Mexican spot that lands best when you treat it like a taco-and-margarita lane with a strong salsa-bar finish. The menu runs wide, but the cleanest experience is to anchor on grilled proteins and tacos (especially seafood options) instead of drifting into menu sprawl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp tacos, Fish tacos (Dorado), Al pastor torta
What Makes it Special: Modern taco lineup with a salsa-bar boost and strong grilled/seafood lanes.
#25
La Lunita
8.2
Opened in 2025 by the team behind La Luna, La Lunita is a modern Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar where wood-fired meats, seafood, and quesabirria share space with Mexican wines. The room leans nightlife-friendly, pairing birria, al pastor-spiced octopus, and composed plates with vinyl nights and a late closing time.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria, Al Pastor Octopus, Tampiqueña
What Makes it Special: A late-night-leaning Mexican spot where wood-fired plates meet serious cocktails and vinyl.
#26
La Mejikana
8.2
A lively Ashland Ave room that plays like a night-out Mexican spot—big energy, cocktails, and a menu built around tacos plus richer, plated mains. The best orders stay focused: one birria-forward item, one shareable starter, and one taco set to keep the table moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesa Birria Tacos, Birria Taco, Queso Fundido
What Makes it Special: High-energy Mexican dining where birria and shareables drive repeat visits.
#27
Rojo Gusano
8.2
A mezcal-forward, modern Mexican room where tacos are the anchor and the vibe does a lot of the work, especially on social nights. It’s strongest when you commit to a tight taco set and one shared starter, then let the bar program carry the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork belly taco, Al pastor taco, Guacamole and chips
What Makes it Special: Tacos paired with a mezcal-heavy cocktail focus in a polished room.
#28
Tacos Tequilas
8.2
Tacos Tequilas is a lively Avondale cantina where a long tequila list meets a broad menu of tacos, fajitas, and combo plates. It’s used as much for margarita-heavy group dinners as for straightforward taco runs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos, Carne asada tacos, Shrimp tacos
What Makes it Special: Tequila-forward cantina that pairs tacos with big, party-friendly platters.
#29
CocoBar
8.1
CocoBar is a bright pink Riverwalk-side spot pairing frozen margaritas and carnitas tacos with skyline views. It’s more about patio energy and drinks than precision cooking, but the tacos, churro fries, and aguas frescas make it one of downtown’s more compelling Mexican-leaning riverfront options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas Tacos, Steak Burrito, Churro Fries
What Makes it Special: Riverwalk margaritas, tacos, and churro fries under a photogenic pink facade.
8.1
Ghost Donkey is a mezcal-and-tequila lounge modeled after Mexican speakeasies, known for neon-pink lighting, party energy and a happy hour built around margaritas and nachos. With a focused snack menu and strong cocktail program, it’s more of a drinks-first stop than a full dinner but functions as a high-energy happy hour destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle nachos, Mole chicken or chorizo nachos, House margarita or mezcal cocktail
What Makes it Special: A mezcal-heavy, neon-lit lounge where happy hour centers on nachos and cocktails.
8
A tacos-and-drinks stop that works best as a late-night hang—weekends run to 1am with a menu that leans into birria and pastor. Treat it like a two-item mission (one birria, one pastor) plus a drink so the table doesn’t sprawl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Al pastor tacos, Quesabirria
What Makes it Special: Weekend 1am hours paired with birria-and-pastor crowd favorites.
Worthy Picks
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Happy Hour Hotspots
Trendy Table Hotspots
The Miami-born Bodega brand’s River North location pairs a casual front taqueria with a tequila-heavy bar and late-night energy. Tacos de birria, al pastor, and quesabirria headline a menu built for pregame bites, cocktails, and DJ-fueled nights in a space that leans more party than quiet sit-down.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taco de Birria, Quesabirria, Al pastor tacos
What Makes it Special: Nightlife-focused taqueria-tequila hybrid where birria and cocktails anchor the experience.
7.9
Vibes:
Happy Hour Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Mucho Gusto is a newer Mexican restaurant and bar from the La Victoria team, dressed in neon lotería art, floral walls, and a vine-wrapped patio built for photos as much as cocktails. Happy hour here leans on margaritas, micheladas, and shareable plates that skew richer and more modern than neighborhood stalwarts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Uchepos Gratinados, Pulpo Enamorado, Cochinita Pibil
What Makes it Special: Design-heavy sibling to La Victoria where margaritas, modern Mexican plates, and a photo-friendly room anchor happy hour.
#34
Thee Beauty Bar
7.9
A nightlife-leaning cocktail bar where tacos are a real part of the plan—simple builds on blue corn tortillas that pair well with drinks and a lively room. It’s a better fit for late-night hangs and small-plate snacking than a taco-only mission, but the jerk chicken lane delivers the most flavor per bite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jerk chicken taco, Ground turkey taco, Veggie taco
What Makes it Special: A late-night bar where tacos and cocktails share the spotlight.
7.8
A neighborhood Mexican bar-and-restaurant with karaoke-night energy and a menu that leans classic rather than experimental. It’s strongest when you order hearty, sauce-forward standards and treat it as a sit-down late-night meal instead of a quick taco stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mojarra frita (fried whole fish), Carne asada plate, Chiles rellenos
What Makes it Special: Late-night Mexican dining with bar energy and karaoke-friendly pacing.
#36
La Cocina
7.8
A casual Loop Mexican spot with a bar-leaning feel that works well for a budget-friendly happy hour when you want margaritas plus a real, filling plate. Go classic—one burrito or quesadilla dinner, one round of drinks—and you’ll keep the experience clean and reliable.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak burrito dinner, Steak quesadilla dinner, Classic margarita
What Makes it Special: A bar-friendly Loop Mexican room that pairs margaritas with big portions.
7.8
A colorful Andersonville room that translates taqueria cravings into vegan form without turning it into a lecture—think saucy, satisfying tacos and a menu built for shareable bites. Order like you would at a traditional spot: one standout taco style, one rich add-on, then stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cauliflower al pastor tacos, Mushroom chimichurri tacos, Quesabirria
What Makes it Special: Vegan tacos that still deliver the saucy, satisfying taqueria feel.
#38
Tallboy Taco
7.8
Opened in 2020 by the Lettuce Entertain You team, Tallboy Taco is a Streeterville counter-service spot for Californian-style tacos, nachos, and margaritas with a sizeable patio. The food leans more toward convenient than destination-worthy, but its $3 taco Sundays and all-day happy hour deals make it one of the more social taco options in 60611.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Taco, Crispy Fish Taco, Masa-Crusted Avocado Taco
What Makes it Special: A modern Streeterville taco counter from a major local restaurant group, pairing California-influenced tacos with margaritas and a busy patio.
7.7
A neighborhood lounge built for after-work drinks where the move is pairing the 6–8pm happy-hour pour with a tight two-taco order. It’s more vibe-and-music than polished dining, but Taco Tuesday specials make it a reliable “grab a seat, eat, and stay a while” stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Two Tacos (Jerk Chicken, Buffalo, or Steak), Five Whole Wingz w/ Fries, Fish Tacos
What Makes it Special: A true lounge-format taco night with a real happy-hour window.
7.7
Moe’s Cantina River North is a sprawling bar-restaurant geared toward game days, Taco Thursdays, and big-group nights out. Expect solid tacos, fajitas, and shared appetizers rather than chef-y experimentation, backed by loud music, TVs, and plenty of tequila.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fajitas Con Arrachera, Carne Asada Tacos, Elotes
What Makes it Special: High-capacity cantina mixing tacos, fajitas, and tequila with sports-bar energy.
#41
Casa Margarita
7.6
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Birthday & Celebration Central
Girls Night Out Approved
Family Friendly Favorites
Casa Margarita, a small local group with a Streeterville outpost near Navy Pier, leans into big-format Tex-Mex plates and a deep margarita list in a brightly decorated dining room. Kitchen hours run to around 11–11:30 p.m., making it a convenient option for post-pier dinners and late-night group gatherings along the river.
Must-Try Dishes:
Camarones A La Diabla, Carne Asada, Queso Fundido con Chorizo
What Makes it Special: A colorful, TV-lined Tex-Mex spot near Navy Pier that stays open late with big plates and bigger margaritas.
7.6
A fully plant-based taqueria that’s strongest when you treat it like street-food format: pick two taco styles with different textures, add one drink, and stop there. The best items mimic classic taqueria structure—savory filling, salsa heat, and a tortilla that holds—without leaning on novelty.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soy al pastor tacos, Jackfruit barbacoa tacos, Matcha horchata
What Makes it Special: A 100% vegan taco menu that aims for classic street-style satisfaction.
7.6
A Printers Row Mexican cantina built around fresh-fruit margaritas, a lively bar-forward vibe, and crowd-friendly taco-and-app ordering. It’s best as a drinks-first dinner where you anchor with tacos and shareables instead of chasing full entrée complexity.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos, Churro cheesecake, Carnitas tacos
What Makes it Special: A bar-led cantina with fruit-forward margaritas and shareable Mexican plates.
#44
Tatas Tacos
7.6
A casual taco-and-margarita stop with a fun, social vibe that works best as a quick meal or pre-plan hang. It’s more about the experience—drinks, shareables, and easy ordering—than a deep culinary deep-dive.
Must-Try Dishes:
Street tacos, Chips and salsa, Margaritas
What Makes it Special: A margarita-friendly taco spot designed for quick social hangs.