Lindo Poncitlan

I’ve been eating at this family owned business for 15 years, since it was a small hole in the wall named Lindo Poncitlan, and on past their expansion and name change. I like this place for a couple solid reasons. First reason being it is a very clean restaurant. It is consistently good and taco dinner is cheap. They have the best chips and salsa in my opinion and sometimes go in just for an order to go. If you are a fan of local, quality family owned business and this is definitely one of them!

Okay, so I have been coming here with my family since i can remember. MANY, MANY, MANY years. I’ve seen all the changes over time. It was our FAMILY restaurant. Every Christmas morning we spent there. When i was smaller, I would go with my parents and now i go with my boyfriend and his kids. One of the waitresses still asks me how my parents are.
Many months ago, while having dinner with the kids, we noticed a group of gangbangers walk in and pretty much run the place. They even went into the kitchen and made it clear to the chef, to make sure he gave them the good meat. The owners son even said «what’s up» to them as if they were friends. This has always been a family restaurant to me and at that moment i knew it was time to go. The whole feeling of the place just left us uncomfortable. I gave it the benefit of the doubt because we knew the owners and everything and just brushed it off.
Over the next couple of times, we noticed we kept getting charged differently. The same meal would basically fluctuate from high to low. In conversation with a friend he said he had noticed that they would add in the tip without telling you (that’s why they never give you a receipt). I still didn’t believe it, I mean I can basically say I grew up there!
Then i went again, same meal we always have with my boyfriend and kids, something that cost us $ 40 ended up at $ 60!!! I mean that’s more than Chilis!!! and this is a hole in the wall place!!! So I was clearly upset and vowed to NEVER go there again!!!
I went again last night, i love the place the food is DECENT, NOT SPECTACULAR, but convenient, fast, and good, sio i gave it another shot. Well i had the usual which would cost about $ 20 for just me and the boyfriend, well it ended up being $ 30 and i physically seen him put in $ 14.99 for my plate which in the menu was only $ 11.99. So i got charged basically for the steak plate instead of what i ordered because i noticed the steak plate was $ 14.99. so what if i did order the steak plate!!! Was he going to charge $ 19.99!!!
Granted, yes, it does say in the menu that prices are subject to change without notice, but damnnnn!!! are they catering it to how much $ they want today! At that the son drives a nice custom truck!!! Must be what i paid for, so can i drive it too? So yes it is good food, but make sure BEFORE you order if that is what they plan on charging you and ALWAYS ask for a receipt!!! Make them make you one!
So, as for me and my family, i’m OFFICIALLY DONE, with this place!!! They just PERMANENTLY LOST a good maybe 15 – 20 customers!

The food is better than average, but expect to be frustrated with the waitresses and the people who take your order over the phone. I have ordered from them twice (nothing complicated — enchiladas with no beans), and both times the order was messed up. Considering that there is a better option just a block away, or the other great Mexican restaurants in Logan Square, I will not go here again.

Good caldo de pollo (Mexican style chicken soup)…but if you stop in definitely try their steak gorditas! Freshly made orange juice is great when you feel under the weather.

I been coming here before they change their name (they changed it cause three blocks down there was another restaurant with the exact name) I been coming here since I was 5. I remember this place only having 7 booths! Was super hard to sit and it. The day they completed a full on dinning place was like the best day of my life. I go here one ever two weeks. The owner, waitress and one cook knows my whole family. This is my favorite restaurant. I’ve brought numerous dates here and none of them are mexicans. They’ve all loved it. Guaranteed if you go, you’ll go back. If you drive, screw the parking meter. I’ve never paid for it since they put them up three years ago.

I go here regularly for lunch. One of the main reasons I started going (besides the fact that the greasy, nasty, [but super tasty!] hillbilly [it’s ok, I’m one too] joint with the poker machines [that actually paid out!] that used to be here closed) is because when they 1^st opened I realized that it is only a one story building and, with no apartments upstairs, that significantly cuts down on the cockroach possibility. And, for once, my theory seems to have been correct. Yes, the food is good. Yes, the service is good. YES!!! It’s clean! And I take comfort in that.

I love the food at this place and the service is just as great. The best thing to order are the steak Gorditas. They are so good. They also have chicken, al pastor and cheese Gorditas. Nice small place to have a fast bite with friends, family, or your significant other. Very laid back environment with subtle decorations. I totally recommend it. There is no parking available so you will have to park out on the streets. I suggest that unless you’re planning on eating inside, you order your food fifteen minutes before picking it up. This way you’re not driving around searching for a parking spot.

Am I surprised I’m the first to review. No, not really. A cursory glance of the restaurant during my meal, I could tell that none of these patrons were Unilocalers nor did they require someone to tell them where to get some good Mexican food in Hermosa.
Once I entered, I was quickly greeted with confusion. Is it sit down and order or counter order and take it to your table. Looking at the tables, the one piece four-​person metal and laminate wood tables, I thought it was the order at the counter process, but I was wrong. But the super friendly hostess /​cashier let me order with her anyways.
I ordered breakfast for lunch which consisted of three over medium eggs coated with some non-​spicy sauce, a few thinly sliced steak strips with a side of beans, lettuce, tomato and rice. The name of the meal escapes me, but I believe it was the house breakfast specialty because ‘Poncitlan’ was in the name of the dish.
Service was quick, food was hot and the telenovela on the tube was dramatic. What else could you want?
Maybe some damn delicious chips and spicy salsa. Don’t miss out. They make it in the restaurant. Worth every cent (free, comes with the meal.)