Hannah H.
Yelp
About a 1-1.5: Garcia's has been around since the early '90s in the Lincoln Square area and is apparently known for their chimichangas.
Their menu also offers various appetizers, salads, fajitas, beef/chicken/seafood dishes, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas, tortas, and breakfast options.
We came here for an early dinner, and we ordered:
+the Carne Asada chimichanga - we opted for the fillings of beans, onions, and cheese, served Suizo-style (topped with melted cheese), with a side of the salsa ranchero
+horchata - we opted for the large size - this was definitely on the sweeter end, more like candy-like; check your sugar levels afterwards!
Making the entree a 'dinner', this came with a side of rice, beans, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream and guacamole. The rice had no flavor and was dry; the refried beans were also unseasoned and more on the gritty/gloopy side. Guacamole was okay, and definitely preferred to dip the tortilla chips in rather than the extremely watery salsa that was served.
The chimichanga itself didn't seem to have been drained well, as it was very oily - I thought the 'melted cheese' would be more of like a queso, but seeing the melted cheese on top was disappointing - it was also flavorless, so it didn't really add much to the chimichanga. The salsa ranchero tasted literally like the watery salsa that was served with the chips.
The fillings of the chimichanga were okay; it seemed as if there were generous amount of carne asada within, but there were some parts that were too fatty or gristly.
I was also surprised with the amount that we paid for the chimichanga meal, being it almost close to $40, in addition to gratuity, with the drink - not sure what various surcharges that were applied, but that was a bit ridiculous. Sure, they give you a generous amount of food, but there was no value to it due to the quality that was served.
Service was friendly, but we could have been checked in more often for refills of water, condiments, and/or getting the check. The place seemed to get busier as the evening went on, and you can tell that this is a popular spot for the locals.
Unfortunately, the craving for a delicious chimichanga was not satisfied, and this place was a no dice - definitely a hyped joint.
Metered parking spaces available.
+overhyped (and, overpriced) chimichangas
+watery salsa and salsa ranchero
+inattentive service
+metered parking spaces available