Las Pinatas

Got in a fight with my old girlfriend here over some chips, salsa and a pitcher of margaritas. The place looked like it might be on the ropes but was probably the closest thing to a real old-​school California-​style Mexican restaurant. Too bad it didn’t stick around. The mexican food was the only highlight of that trip.
On the other hand, hopefully Chicago opens up another California style Mexican restaurant, I’ll look it up next time I’m in town, great city like Chicago can surely support one.

Ate here last weekend with my friends after a day on the water. It was quite impressive Mexican food. The beef burritos were great and the fondido was amazing. Great service and very friendly staff. The margaritas will help level the playing field if you’re looking to head out after wards. Check out this great Mexican spot in Old Towne!

What a pleasant surprise! The place is really a dump and probably hasn’t been remodeled for 20 years, but the chef knows how to cook! I came here with my family, we had about 8 menu items, and each of us thought out meals were delicious. Great place to take you family in an area that becoming increasingly uptight.

My wife and I live pretty much across the street and yet we never had been into Las Piñata until last Saturday (we wanted to try it out on Cinco de Mayo, of course). We’ve always known it was there, but never made the effort to try it out. Well, we were really happy we did!
First of all, the place is really dark, but the walls are bright blue and there are piñatas hanging from all over the ceiling. Our waiter was quiet, but helped us decide on the taco salad. We loved it — the steak was seasoned well and the taco shell was delicious. All in all, my wife and I were blown away. It’s nothing fancy and doesn’t try to be what it’s not — this is a place I’ll return to often.
Oh, and because it was Cinco de Mayo, they gave out free tequila shots to everyone in the restaurant and sent everyone home with some travel-​sized tequila!

I’ve eaten here on many several occasions but it had been a little over four years since I’ve last been and recently back in February I was going to a comedy show at Zanie’s and my Best friend and I decided to grab some dinner before the show. I told him how awesome this place was and it had been so long since I last been. And I must admit it did not dissapoint!
It was a bit slow, for a Friday night but we got awesome service while we were there. The décor hasn’t changed the piñatas hanging down from the ceiling is classic a bit outdated but it makes the place feel cozy at least to me. The waiter was very friendly and effecient. Our glasses of water were always full and that makes me a happy camper.
So we order some guacamole as an appetizer and it was to DIE FOR!!! the nice shell it came in was the bomb!!! and I am not a guacamole lover but I enjoyed it a lot. My friend on the other hand loves guacamole and he was extremely satisfied as well.
for our main course he had chicken tacos and I ordered flautas made with chicken… and MAN OH MAN it was amazing. By far the best Mexican food we’ve had in a long time. He was in love with the place and it did not dissapoint him we left there full and very happy!
I will def come back to this place more and more!!! I love it

Still loving this place! Every time we crave some good regular not fancy mexican food this is our place. The salsa is spicy and a bit different then the basic chopped up tomato version and the chips to dip are crunchy and tasty. We started with the Queso Fundido melted chihuahua cheese with chorizo served with tortillas. It comes to your table bubbling hot. You roll your own a great started. Next we split the steak burritos it comes with 3 medium size burritos stuffed full of steak and a touch of beans the steak is great quality lean flavorful and tasty. Served with rice and the best beans I have ever had at a mexican place. A pitcher of margaritas was paired with out entire meal they are good not sweet a little tart lime taste and strong but not strong enough to ruin the flavor. Was happy walking in and even happier walking out after a great meal.

Not a winner in my book. Went on a Friday night (yes, I know those are busy) but it was around 8:45 so we were definitely beyond the dinner rush. We told them we needed a minute before we’d be ready to order drinks, and that minute turned into 20. We ordered Sangria and expected it to come out maybe 5 minutes later, but again waited 15 – 20. Luckily we had some decent chips and salsa to keep our growling tummies at bay while we waited for our orders to come. I’m tired of going to Mexican restaurants that are afraid to put any spice in their salsa, so this was a nice deviation from the norm — it has a little bit of a kick.
Our main entrees left something to be desired, though. I’m used to plentiful portions of beans and/​or rice on the side with my enchiladas, but I got maybe a few forkfuls. The enchiladas were drowning in sauce, which left the tortillas soggy and made them very difficult to eat overall. The Sangria, once it finally came, tasted very watered down… maybe I’m spoiled from having true Sangria when I lived in Spain, but this was not good.
Mediocre food + slow, unattentive service made for a bad experience for me. Time to keep looking!

ENCHILADAS were awesome… went back another day for TACOS and they SUCKED!!! The worst I have EVER had in my life and I dont exaggerate!
Im half mexican how can you go wrong with tacos??? and 2 for $ 7 really?!
When I called to complain they said sorry and thats it. Go to adobo down the street atleast you get what you pay for.

Great Margaritas and food!
I love the Vegitarian Fajitas… it assures me I will not have stomach issues later like some of the Mexican restrants around here.
The staff is authentic Mexican along with the great food they dish out. Come hungry because you will have plenty to eat and wash it down with!
Sometimes there is a wait because the place is smaller than it looks but they do a good job of enertaining you with all the chaos in the mean time.
Only downside is dont expect the staff to say anything to the roudy, loud, wasted group of people throwing their elbows over the booth at your head. You should handle em yourself!

I ended up at Las Pinatas because a friend got banned from a nearby pub. I’m not going to go into details as to how that happened. It’s a pretty chill place at night, despite it being in the middle of a busy area of Old Town, surrounded by Zanies, Second City and a whole bunch of bars.
It’s like a party in there! A plethora of pinatas hangs from the ceiling. One of these days I’m going to walk in with a stick and start smacking one of them open to see if any cool stuff falls out. The walls are covered in artwork and paintings, some of which are kind of creepy, but they’re okay if you don’t stare too long.
This place gets the staples just right. The salsa is amazing and the margaritas knocked me on my ass just after the first one. The food is average. I’ve had the enchiladas verdes and the tacos, both were decent.
I’m going to throw in an extra star because the service is always great, and they don’t give you the sigh treatment when you come in with a large group who each want their own bill.

Vegetarian refried beans and vegetarian Spanish rice — of course I am a fan! Do I need to say more???
Okay, I will, just a few more words. the portions are large, the combos are great, the rice and beans are yummy!

I was pleasantly surprised with Las Pinatas. Came here last week for a friend’s birthday, and the restaurant staff had set up number of tables in a long row to accommodate for our larger group.
We walked in and were immediately provided water and glasses for margaritas, and from then on out, it seemed like bottomless margaritas with the constant refilling. I still think I only had around two, but they were very efficient in their service and accommodating.
Finally we decided it was time to order. The birthday girl ordered some kind of queso dip that came with tortillas, which sounded like a good idea, but after plopping on the cheese, there was oil dripping everywhere! It was pretty disgusting actually, the amount of oil, so that was a bit of a turn off, but tasty otherwise.
I ordered my usual: two cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, and they were actually pretty good. Oh and I ordered the salsa verde because I pretty much always prefer the green sauce over red.
The margaritas were good, but nothing that would entice me to venture this way again for just drinks, although I was happy with my entrée, so I would likely come back for food AND drinks, of course.

Unilocalers, you have let me down. From many reviews, I was definitely expecting more of this place. Boy was I wrong!
This place reminds me of many establishments that litter NYC: they are fronting as «dives» but mostly just offer mediocre, still over-​priced food. People think they are getting a good deal because it’s the only place on the block where you can get a meal for under $ 20. Well just because you are «only» paying $ 13.95 for that tasteless taco platter doesn’t mean that you are anywhere special. You are only on that strip in Old Town, where everything costs WAY more than it should. Do you think it makes sense that you have to pay $ 3.50 for a refill on your chips and salsa just so you can continue to make yourself thirsty and continue to purchase $ 6.00 margaritas? Didn’t think so.

Stumbled upon this joint on the way back from Second City and so glad we did! Decided to go for lunch the next day. Fantastico!
Wow. What great, authentic flavors! The place is designed just like a west coast or Mexican Inn, which really adds to the experience. Great value meals — with beer or margarita included! And they don’t skimp on anything!
Lunch was around $ 20 for two — which is reasonable for this area. I’ll be back!

Dating provides such fodder for reviews.
This was date # something with the same guy, and it was time for me to meet some of his friends. So, this was the go to place.
We were greeted, and seated in a most friendly manner. They actually seemed excited that a group of 6 had picked their place. Refreshing to me to feel like I was a wanted guest.
Each table is covered in a sort of aqua-​turquoise vinyl tablecloth. At first I was like «WHAT?», then I realized it was all part of the interesting décor. I just went with it, and it made my life easier. Not that I wasn’t already freaked out enough that I was meeting my dates best friends.
We all ordered something different, and I ordered something that wasn’t even on the menu. I ordered the steak tacos, but in a flour tortilla rather than the hard corn one. See, I don’t much care for the taste of corn.
We also ordered several pitches of margarita to help lubricate conversation for the entire evening.
The staff was very attentive, and they actually would come out and pour the drinks when our glasses got low. I really felt like a guest here, I can’t stress that enough. And the food was filling. There were 3 tacos in my order, along with rice and beans… and they put some other frilly fillings on the side (lettuce, etc).
I never once felt rushed, and when the bill came they didn’t hover. We went later at night, and because there were 6 of us, there was gratuity on the cheque. Not a surprise.
I liked this joint. I can see going back there. Its good standard Mexican fare, at a good price for the neighborhood.
Check it out!

We LOVE Las Piñatas! We live in the neighborhood and come for dinner every few weeks… sometimes more frequently. I can honestly say, I don’t think I have ever ordered something that I didn’t love.
The wait staff is awesome — super friendly even on the crazy busy nights and always bring us another margarita even when I say no more!
If we have a group big enough to share we sometimes start with the queso fundido — delicious! I say big enough to share because even the small is too big for two people! Is it greasy? Yes! But I’m guessing if you’re ordering melted cheese with chorizo you aren’t exactly counting the calories for that meal.
My favorite dish is the Enchiladas Verdes with carne asada — spicy and so flavorful! Amazing every time. If you feel like spending a little extra you must try the Camarones a la Plancha– Butterfly shrimp sautéed in garlic — amazing! I’ve never met anyone who has ordered them and not liked them.
The atmosphere is usually pretty lively and on any given night we see a lot of dates sitting around us pounding pitchers of margaritas to drink past the discomfort — luckily it works every time!
if you’re looking for something fancy there are a couple of places down the street that may suit you better but if you are looking for good Mexican food in a fun relaxed atmosphere than Las Piñatas is a must!

You will walk in and see the awful wall color and the excessive amount of childrens birthday party pinatas hanging from the ceiling… you may wonder if you made the right choice in coming here. I think you probably did.
I don’t go here too often because it is not the cheapest, but definitely reasonably priced dinner entrees for the area and cheaper than Adobo up the street. It’s a great casual night out with your friends or a low key date type location.
Let’s talk about the margaritas. A pitcher of strawberry for 30 dollars… about 8 glasses full! Yes please!
Everything I’ve ordered has been really tasty. Never had an upset stomach (often mexican does that to me, so this is noteworthy).

Review based on take out.
First off the waitress had mad attitude. Flash backs from the dave chappelle skit with wayne brady popped in my head. «Is wayne brady going to have to choke a bitch»…
Food, was ok. Small portions with a big price tag.
Ive read reviews and ignored them. I should of listened. So listen to me. STAY FAR AWAY. Well not too far cause Boston Market is next store… (:

I really, really want to love this place. And, I have given it three chances to win me over, but the food is bland and the prices are too high for such poor quality. The place is dingy and not in a hip dive sort of a way; more in a dirty, afraid to peek into the kitchen or under the table sort of way.
I tend to be a positive person so here’s what I like. Fun piñatas hanging from the ceiling, nice people working there, decent salsa and drinkable margaritas.
That being said, we’re probably not going back anytime soon.

Twice I’ve eaten here and twice someone else paid which certainly helps my recessionary budget. The prices are a couple dollars higher than my fave Mexican food restaurant in Logan Square, but Las Pinatas is a great place in a city with too few great Mexican restaurants Downtown/​Old Town. It’s been five years since the last time I ate here, and nothing’s changed interior-​wise. Same awful paintings… same nice wait staff… same tasty food. Kudos for the chips and the great thick beany-​spicy dip served as the traditional Mexican restaurant intro app.
I had the chimichanga, and for once, it didn’t come out as a fat log of burrito mess like so many other places prepare it. Three small chimichangas, each tasty and just enough. The drinks were ordered and served in less time than most restaurants take to bring the water. These guys WORK. Good service, though it was a late Thursday evening (late by Chicago standards).
The only drawback is that I also ordered a Coke and was given a bottle – yes, they have no free refills here.