Cecina Grill Pilsen

The service and food was amazing! Hidden gem for sure! You have to try it. Steak is not chewy, but actual steak that was delicious! The coffee was also delicious, I lost count of how many I had! Perfect date spot, give it a try. You'll thank me later!

Cecina Grill in Pilsen is an absolute must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality tacos with bold, unforgettable flavors. I stopped by on a lively evening, and the atmosphere was electric and the people gave the place a vibrant, welcoming vibe that made the whole experience even better. I ordered four tacos al pastor, and I can honestly say it was one of the best taco decisions I’ve ever made. These tacos were next-level they weren’t just packed, they were overflowing with flavor and filled to the brim with juicy, tender al pastor. The meat had that perfect balance of smokiness and spice, marinated just right to give every bite a burst of incredible taste. The outside had a slight crisp to it, while the inside remained juicy and tender, practically melting in your mouth. But what really set these tacos apart was how all the elements came together. The fresh, soft tortillas perfectly cradled the hearty al pastor, soaking up the juices without falling apart. Then there was the salsa wow! It brought the perfect amount of heat and tang to the dish, elevating every bite to another level. The salsa had this vibrant, fresh flavor that cut through the richness of the meat and tied everything together beautifully. A sprinkle of cilantro and onions added a fresh crunch, balancing the deep, smoky flavors of the pork. Each taco was like a symphony of flavors spicy, savory, fresh, and satisfying. I’ve had plenty of tacos in my life, but these were some of the best I’ve ever tasted. They were thick, hearty, and absolutely packed with flavor, leaving me completely satisfied and eager for more. Cecina Grill doesn’t just serve tacos, they craft an experience. If you’re ever in Pilsen, this spot is a must. I’ll definitely be back to explore the rest of the menu, but those al pastor tacos will be hard to beat!

Prob not going back. Almost $20 for 2 tacos and a quesadilla. The al pastor was so salty I could only eat half of one taco. And the quesadilla was not really cooked. Put it on the stove to brown it up...something I would have expected them to do. And then I noticed something in the tortilla. Never seen anything like this in food in my life. Honestly don't want to speculate but im not going back here and I just threw away $18 worth of food. Also the side of sour cream was to be $4 good thing I caught that and had it removed from the order.

Yummy in my tummy!😋🤤 So delicious & well worth it, it wasn't busy when we went, inside kinda small. Everything we tasted was, well cooked, savory & handmade tortillas soft & fresh. I totally recommend this place. ☺️ The birria plate or soup & especially the cecina steak. 💯%

No words to describe how great this food’s place was. Had the spicy & regular cecina taco & they were delicious. Dont sleep on the aguas frescas! I had the tamarindo agua & was perfect for my taste. Highly recommend anyone in the area to come & try out some tacos!

This place never disappoints! Mexican food just how my mom makes it. Salsas are great, hand made tortillas are the best & and you can taste the love in the food. My favorite spot in the city

This is more like 3.5 stars. The rice and beans were delicious but they really skimped on the rice. The cecina was good. They use the microwave to heat up certain foods. You get complimentary salsa and tortilla chips. The service was decent given that the server was also the cashier. We went on a weekday for dinner so it wasn’t busy probably like 4 tables in total.

Great food and service. Highly recommend!

Cecina Grill in Pilsen is an absolute must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality tacos with bold, unforgettable flavors. I stopped by on a lively evening, and the atmosphere was electric and the people gave the place a vibrant, welcoming vibe that made the whole experience even better. I ordered four tacos al pastor, and I can honestly say it was one of the best taco decisions I've ever made. These tacos were next-level they weren't just packed, they were overflowing with flavor and filled to the brim with juicy, tender al pastor. The meat had that perfect balance of smokiness and spice, marinated just right to give every bite a burst of incredible taste. The outside had a slight crisp to it, while the inside remained juicy and tender, practically melting in your mouth. But what really set these tacos apart was how all the elements came together. The fresh, soft tortillas perfectly cradled the hearty al pastor, soaking up the juices without falling apart. Then there was the salsa wow! It brought the perfect amount of heat and tang to the dish, elevating every bite to another level. The salsa had this vibrant, fresh flavor that cut through the richness of the meat and tied everything together beautifully. A sprinkle of cilantro and onions added a fresh crunch, balancing the deep, smoky flavors of the pork. Each taco was like a symphony of flavors spicy, savory, fresh, and satisfying. I've had plenty of tacos in my life, but these were some of the best I've ever tasted. They were thick, hearty, and absolutely packed with flavor, leaving me completely satisfied and eager for more. Cecina Grill doesn't just serve tacos, they craft an experience. If you're ever in Pilsen, this spot is a must. I'll definitely be back to explore the rest of the menu, but those al pastor tacos will be hard to beat!

Delicious chilaquiles with bistec, beans, and rice! Good customer service and the restaurant space is perfect. They had live music the second time I went.

First time here on a Monday afternoon for lunch. Came here on the recommendation of someone who swears at this place is absolutely authentic and super delicious. It is a cute little place and fortunately we were able to find some street parking right out front but you do have to pay for. Service was super friendly and very fast. The food came out piping hot which was absolutely incredible and after the first round of tacos being so delicious we ordered more food. Horchata is pretty good too and homemade Would definitely come back, especially if I can find parking.

Great green juice a+ fresh. Surf n turf burrito No beans No sour cream Add rice Add onion Light guac! Amazing!!!! The tortilla they use taste so damn good however they grill it, it makes the burrito complete! The fresh chips and salsa, sooo good, better than so many Mexican restaurants in atlanta the past year I've been too, this one is the best. The coconut dessert!! It's a beautiful slice of cake that is moist like tres leches, but an airy and light bite with coconut flakes and flavor that is not overpowering. Amazing desssert. So many restaurants have the same items for desserts and the quality to me in desserts are never A + this one is!! With our check we also received these little candies. This experience was great. Nice little area on the Southside, Pilsen area. Family friendly neighborhood, kids walking around with their teachers and just that home feel when you come to this neighborhood. I would definitely return when I'm in Chicago!

Excellent food & service I highly recommend coming here. I ordered the Cecina Guerrero it was so good.

A great meal, attentive service, BYOB, handmade tortillas, good vibes and did I mention how good the food is? The cecina is on point, the enchiladas are tasty and well prepared, the sopes are loaded and delicious, and the surf and turf burrito is the best hidden secret this side of Ashland Ave. If you want to hide from the world and have a great unpretentious meal, this is it.

Delicious food , great service provided by the Young lady Leslie , who take my order by phone for pick up , she make my day !!! , handmade tortillas and the best chilaquiles .

Tasty burrito at this modest grill in Pilsen. Satisfied my cravings, as Mexican in Martin County simply isn't very good. This was certainly authentic and was served with a creamy orange salsa of some sort, which was both spicy and delicious. Sorry about forgetting to snap a photo until I got halfway through it. I was hungry! Bonus of fresh chips and steaming hot salsa when I was seated. With a Diet Coke, it was around $14. Not bad in this day of $12 Subway sandwiches.

Very good food, love their cecina and cheese tacos. Highly recommend this place. I will be returning when I'm back in Chicago again!

We went for a brunch on a Saturday and it was a good experience. I was running late but they seated the rest of the party and we appreciated that. The salsa de molcajete was so, so good. So good, in fact, that our table ordered three chilaquiles de salsa de molcajete. The coffee was not cafe de olla but they did make the "regular" coffee taste like cafe de olla. Service was friendly and fast. They even brought out a birthday cake celebrate a birthday in our group. Would recommend for brunch!

Chilaquiles were nice and crisp, with good amount of salsa, crema, y queso. Cecina was brought out after all the food was ready (waitress forgot) and was good but very thin.

Ordered burrito de cecina with a side of dinner rice and beans for pick-up on a Friday night. The service was right on time with their estimate, which was 20 minutes from placing the order. The portion size was perfect and everything was tasty. The order came with three different types of salsa, which were all spicy and delicious. I do wish the burritos came with a little more meat, but that is my only criticism. There were areas of the burrito that were just lettuce so it could've been prepared a little better.

I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Cecina Grill used to be part of La Cecina with their other locations in Back of the Yards and the other in Calumet City. But recently they branched off and became Cecina Grill. The disappointing part was their menu. You see, the other locations had an extensive menu. They also had a lot of cheap lunch specials. Cecina Grill is just to pricey with no specials at all. I ordered their Chilaquiles with Cecina. These were very delicious. They came with a side of rice and beans, and the Chilaquiles were in a very flavorful green sauce. And topped with two fried eggs and queso freaco. The Cecina a was long and thin and a bit salty. I really enjoyed my meal here, but I probably wouldn't order anything else bu Cecina tacos here, if they taste similar to La Cecina on 47th.

I was nursing a terrible hangover and stumbled into this gem as a complete mess. I left rejuvenated. If you have a hangover or need an intervention come here. They'll take great care of you with patience and understanding. The coffee is also pretty good! Can't wait to take my bf :)

Ordered lunch here for coworkers. Everyone loved their food! I ordered green chilaquiles with Cecina and had an agua de tamarindo. So tasty and price was reasonable.

I ordered Uber eats from here. Not only did they forget to make/pack/check the receipt to make sure it's complete but they forgot one item from my order. I called and they pretty much didn't even say sorry. Also, the other items were really bad quality, the pasta, the menudo, the calamari and even the stale chips, were all BAD. We spent $60+ for this order and we ended up getting something else. The pasta was watery not at all something that you would enjoy and it was not secure it spilled inside the bag. The calamari was dry,old, stale and over cooked and the menudo tasted like water, no flavor and barely had meat, even the chips were old and stale. Very bad experience and will not be eating or ordering here again. If I could I would give it 0 stars!

Bomb AF! A friend had suggested this place when I first moved to Chicago, but it took me a year to finally listen and go. I had been missing out on some good food! My gf and I take 2 buses, or Uber, from Hyde Park just to eat their Cecina steak! It is delicious anyway you try it! Could be in tacos, burrito, or in dinner plate (ordered each one of those items on separate occasions) and it doesn't disappoint!

Great food...very authentic Mexican food....went for breakfast but will have to try their specialty Cecina!!!!

Wear your masks. Food is good, but if the employees either aren't wearing masks or not wearing them properly, sort of gives a feeling that they don't really care about cleanliness and hygiene.

I posted here before on this business. I ordered flautas de pollo. When I went to pick up my food nobody was wearing a mask. Not the cook or the waitress or the cashier the customer. I asked where's the masks the customer said he left his in the car. The other 3 put them on. I told them I ordered flautas de pollo but that they could keep the food cause I didn't want it. Then they wonder why so many Latinos come down with the covid. If I could give them zero stars I would

The Cecina Guerrero was impeccable. I loved the guacamole and tortillas too. Quality beef, fast, flawless

Out of all the places to eat Mexican in Pilsen, this is my absolute favvvv. I always get the burrito de cecina because their cecina is out of this world. The flavor of the cecina with the sweetness of the salsa that's suizo on my burrito really is what makes this place special. I've never had it like this anywhere else.

I was looking for a byob restaurant in Pilsen and stumbled upon these reviews. I was very skeptical when approaching because there was only one table occupied. Anyway. I ordered the chicken flautas my friend ordered 2 tacos( asada, cabeza & Mejia..I think that's what it's called) in the reviews there were tiny tacos pictures so we didn't expect much from that. Well to our surprise they were huge tacos with hand made tortillas. She said she loved every single taco. I loved the flautas. The chicken was actually flavored, the rice was ok and the beans. It comes with pico de gallo and Guac. Holy moly they were delicious. Im going back for sure. You also get a warm plate of salsa, soooo good. We will return. It was $26 for the meals. Can't beat the price !!! Only con it smells like oil and it's sort of run down.

I wish I liked it but found it to be lacking. There was no meat in anything we ordered. Burrito had little steak and the pork was fat. The breaded steak didn't have any steak. I won't come back

Randomly popped in on 4th of July because it was one of the few spots open and I'm so so glad we did! It's our new fav joint and has become a part of our regular rotation now. We first got the cecinas plates -- we just looked at each other like omg this is so good. The fresh handmade tortillas are a game changer and sets it apart from other places. We got the same thing the second time. Third time we ate in and ordered tacos and again, they were so satisfying. Oh and the chile de arbol salsa that comes with the complimentary tortilla chips is fireeee! On top of it all, the people there are always super kind which just makes it a 10/10. So happy to have found this gem!

I decided to try this spot because the Jibarito spot I wanted to go to was closed today. Why not support an independent spot right?? Well sometimes it's best to go where u know. This spot looks nice from outside, decent inside, there was an odd smell I could not pinpoint. It wasn't too loud but I smelled it so therefore I made it a big deal. The cook spoke as I came inside. It is open seating. Waitress came over in 1 minute, took drink order. Came back in 2 minutes then took food order. The salsa was steaming, chips were saltless but good, noise level was good, only a few people there. Food came within 10 minutes. It was hot. The rice was ok, not bad but not the best. I have had chicken enchiladas en mole sauce before but this was more bitter than sweet tasting. The horchata was good. The bitterness of the mole costed a star and the server kept speaking to me in Spanish when I told her 3 times I only speak English. Otherwise decent place.

Subpar Mexican food. Service on a Saturday evening was poor, despite the fact that it wasn't terribly busy. There was only one server working and she wasn't very attentive. The food took too long to get to the table when compared to other restaurants in the area and the quality was not great. The tortillas served with the shrimp fajitas were homemade, which is a huge plus and the horchata was pretty good. However, everything else was below average. Probably won't return considering that there's better Mexican food in the area.

If you love traditional Mexican food this place is a must!! Absolutely love coming here!! Don't listen to white people reviewing Mexican food. I was born and raised in Mexico City the hotspot of great food in Mexico so I know when food is good.

Stopped in on a super rainy Labor Day while we were in Pilsen, La Cecina was one out of only a few places open on the holiday. The inside is has almost a diner layout to it, with the kitchen mostly open, stool seating around it and tables everywhere else. There are some Mexican decorations here and there, but this place is pretty strictly business. We were given the always-clutch chips and salsa. They were very tasty, the salsa was a brown-red color and had an interesting flavor to it with just enough kick. We started with the guacamole. It was very good with just the right amount of citrus. I also had horchata which also hit the mark. I had a the cecina burrito and I think she had a torta milanesa. I usually don't get burritos at authentic Mexican restaurants due to how similar they can be, but the burrito here was surprisingly tasty! It was different in that the cecina meat is a house specialty, it's like pressed on the grill steak. The tortilla itself was also not just a flimsy, lukewarm wrap either, here they actually crisped the edges of the tortilla and it was the least messiest burrito I've ever eaten and added a nice element of texture to a usually mediocre item. The cute, older Mexican lady who served us was charming and authentic. She did a great job for our simple little dinner. Above average, authentic food here at prices that are good. Great little spot on 18th street.

I just ordered from here using Uber Eats on National Burrito Day. Overall, it was a very solid burrito. The steak was tender and tasty. And the tortilla was grilled to a perfection. The food was warm when it arrived so I would expect it to be better when it's cooked immediately. Plus my order came about 20 minutes earlier than the expected time, which was nice!

I was in town for a convention and decided to try this place out. First off the salsa will put hair on the chest of any human who takes more than a drop. I walked out of there looking like Sasquatch. It was muy caliente, but bueno. The steak was thinner than an "after photo" from Weight Watchers, seasoned perfectly. The tortillas were soft and yummy. The guacamole was fresh and tasty too. I also sprung for the fresh squeezed orange juice, which was pulpy and delicious. It was $8.00 for a large, a bit steep. I could have used the money to invest in my own orange tree. I'm keeping one star off because of the wait time, almost 30 minutes before a server came over and we had to wait for the check for another 15. No return visits by the server to check on drink during the meal. Remember the salsa? The lack of drinks didn't help. If this place puts a surgeon general's warning on the salsa bowl and sets aside a Sunday for customer service training, it would be perfect!

This place is great. I've been here a few times. The service is okay and everything I've had so far tastes fresh. It used to be called La Condesa and they have free parking across the street. It is also one of the few places that have Tacos de canasta. It's not on the menu but just ask, I would suggest getting Chicharron. The food is delicious, I would just suggest skipping the ceviche and if you're going to get the tortilla soup make sure it's not to go.

This place is DECENT. Definitely better than Los Cómales nearby. Price wise it's a little pricy especially since the food was OKAY. I got the Tampiqueña and The guacamole was extremely salty, the rice and beans were eh needed something so that they can be flavorful (well at least the rice did). The mole enchilada just had a weird taste to be honest; I was not a fan. The steak was the ONLY delicious thing out of my dish. I loved that they make handmade tortillas. Again, I know a place in the south side (Gage Park) called 5 estrellas, and EVERYTHING from that dish (La Tampiqueña) is delicious, and for a cheaper price.

Amazing service. Food is delicious. I love this place! Employees are so friendly and food is served promptly, fresh and hot.

Horrible place I repeat horrible place don't come here these people will rob you legally. 2.50 for a taco the size of my palm.... also you can go anywhere in the city of Chicago and get a can of pop for 75 cents up to a dollar. This place will charge you 2 dollars and some change for a can of pop lol. If y'all want to get disappointed come here trust me they won't disappoint in that aspect. WORST TACOS AND BURRITOS IN THE CHICAGO LAND AREA.

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago. I love the service, the waitresses are very friendly and kind. The food is delicious, my favorite dish is chilaquiles verdes with cecina. I also love tacos de cecina which are make with homemade tortilla. I love love this place and I'm sure you will love it too!

Supported the CTU and SEIU unions with free meals. Great atmosphere and music the staff was nice and accommodating .

Great friendly service! Their tacos are the best. Make sure to try their spicy cecina one and their Mejica (with your choice of meat), it's flavorful and the taste is pure bliss in your mouth. BYOB.... they offer michelada prep for your beers. Enjoy thank me later!

We were craving Mexican food and there are so many great options in Pilsen. Once we found out La Cecina was a BYOB, we were sold. It's nothing fancy but that's usually when you know the food is going to be good. We started off with the guacamole and it was so creamy and fresh. My friend ordered the combo fajitas and raved about them. I tried a piece of his steak and it was very tender and the flavor was delicious. I ordered the Al Pastor taco dinner and thought it was super tasty. I couldn't even finish it because the tacos were huge. Everything was fairly priced and the only set back to me was that the salsa was only so-so. The guacamole quickly made up for it, though. The next time I'm craving Mexican food and a good buzz for cheap, I'll definitely be back!

So the fourty plus dollar parillada is actually a stew as shown in pic. It was served in a cold metal tray with no sterno to heat it. It came with guacamole yet the waitress let me order one as a appetizer. Last time we came the cook reeked of Marijuana. Wont be coming back. Too bad, cause the food wasnt bad.

Well first and last time there food is so so but service is TERRIBLE just young immature kids working there and drinking !! Food took 30 minutes waitress terrible they had rap music playing with cursing just not the place for that . Will never go BACK !!! People there's other better places

I ordered the Sopa Azteca- basically tortilla soup. It was just ok... wouldn't order it again My mother ordered chicken flautas- she didn't care for them either. Won't be going back. The table was wobbly, I could smell some sort of plumbing issue that was going on and the clay pots hanging as decor were dusty right above our table. With a place that isn't so busy I would hope they'd give the place the extra TLC that it needs. I wanted to like this restaurant considering it's one of the last Mexican spots on 18th but unfortunately it didn't work out.

I have been here four times in the past month. The dishes I've tried are amazing. Great salsa(served warm). The steak was outstanding. At first glance this place looks like a dive but the food is far from that. There is a parking lot across the street. There is not a lot of seating. My girlfriend ordered the tricolor faijitas(steak,shrimp,chicken). The dish was great but probably would not get the shrimp. Although it is hard to impress me with seafood because I am use to grade A jumbo shrimps. They have a wide menu with many options. I would definitely recommend this place over los comales, canton regino or even coyote.

This is my favorite restaurant in Pilsen, for obvious reasons of course. the Food is great the hand made tortillas is a plus. BYOB also. The Staff is also polite and well organized . Overall if u want a nice clean Authentic Mexican plate this is the go to place! Check it out! U won't be disappointed

This is by far the best authentic mexican food i have tasted! My favorite dish highly Recommend this place in pilsen!!!! The homemade tortillas made fresh go perfect with the tacos and dinner plates they have. Definitely love coming here and will continue to come here :)

Awesome fajitas. Good service. Made sure my allergies weren't going to put me out (they don't use soy oil--it's all corn, and no milk in the beans). I will be back!

Just really good soul-satisfying food here. I've ordered pickup from here a couple of times and it's been delicious. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I read the reviews for this place and all the people who said to try the house specials were 100% correct. So good. The tacos are the perfect size and come wrapped in, dare I say, a beautiful handmade tortilla. But, get the Cecina Azteca, Cecina Albanil, and Lomo en Chile de Arbol. They are stunning dishes!

Quick, hot, tacos were perfect. We tired Pastor, Asada and Cecina. Everything was delicious and good price, good service too!

Stopped in to check out their food ordered a steak torta it was fresh and delicious I was not disappointed