Machetes

Machetes was an experience I wasn’t expecting—but it completely blew me away. Hidden and unassuming, this place is a true gem serving up some of the most impressive quesadillas I’ve ever had. While the menu offers a variety of options, the real stars are their three sizes of machetes—massive, flavor-packed quesadillas that steal the show. You can choose from The Machete, The Machete Jr., and The Machete Baby, each one filled with your choice of protein and topped to perfection. The toughest decision? Picking just one! I went with the Machete Jr. with carne asada, and even that felt massive when it landed on my table. A long, freshly made tortilla wrapped around perfectly grilled steak, stuffed to the brim with flavor. But what truly took it over the top was loading it up with every topping available, pickled onions, fresh cilantro, and all three of their house-made hot sauces. The first bite was out of this world. The tortilla, warm and slightly charred, had that unmistakable homemade texture that held everything together beautifully. The carne asada was tender, juicy, and packed with smoky, savory goodness. The pickled onions added a tangy bite, balancing the richness of the meat, while the cilantro brought in freshness. Then came the sauces—each one delivering a different level of spice and depth, from a smooth heat to an intense, lingering burn that kept me going back for more. Every element fused together into something unforgettable. The textures, the bold flavors, the heat, it was all just next-level. If you’re looking for a place that serves authentic, no-nonsense, flavor-packed food, Machetes is the spot. I’ll definitely be back, and next time, I might just take on the full-sized Machete!

Arrive 1 pm, upon entering, you noticed it is very quiet and nobody is at the front. But sooner or later, someone does come out to attend you. You have to order at the cashier and they give you the food. The extra ingredients are out, unpacked, open air for anyone to grab, even for mosquitos and flies. (I only found mosquitos on said day I attended) Some tables looked dirty, and others looked fairly clean. I chose the closest one to me, but I don't think they wiped the table down. When I received my order, it was a very large plate. I forgot a machete was that large. But I still ate it all. I was very full afterwards. Food was good. Atmosphere felt very lonely and dry, that not even the cashier wanted to be there. Service was rather quick compared to other Mexican restaurants I have gone to. I was recommended the Pastor meat, which I think was relatively good. Some extra fatty meats here and there, but overall good.

I never leave bad reviews, but this was ridiculous. This was our first time and will be our last time here. I ordered a burrito dinner with beans and rice, and when i called about my side missing she stated the rice was IN MY burrito! The rice was added to my burrito and charged for $3.63 for the side of rice. The reciept does state an ORDER of rice. Maybe if they got off their airpod they would be able to concentrate better on the client's order. Terrible service.

Left just moments ago!! I had to give ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i had the machete jr( which was huge) with carne. It was sooo good! When I’m on this side of town I will definitely be back!

Great food and great service. Would definitely recommend and I am going to return to get more it was so great.!

I had to write this review as soon as i left 😁 best machetes ever. Food was amazing. As soon as you walked in the place smelled so clean, not like food but clean. Staff was really nice. Highly recommend it. Will definitely be coming again.

Small place but good amount of tables. Great service and everything is cooked fresh. Great selection of salsa at the self serve station. Beware it can be very spicy. The quesadillas are very large and filling for an amazing price. My favorite spot for quesadillas!! Free Wifi.

This place is nice well organized but it needs more space. The staff is nice and they are there to help you. The prices are okay not to expensive nor too cheap. Sometimes the place is packed but you can still manage to move around. There are many drink options. Sometimes the staff leaves to the back and idk what they do, but they come back every 5 minutes.

Machetes was an experience I wasn't expecting--but it completely blew me away. Hidden and unassuming, this place is a true gem serving up some of the most impressive quesadillas I've ever had. While the menu offers a variety of options, the real stars are their three sizes of machetes--massive, flavor-packed quesadillas that steal the show. You can choose from The Machete, The Machete Jr., and The Machete Baby, each one filled with your choice of protein and topped to perfection. The toughest decision? Picking just one! I went with the Machete Jr. with carne asada, and even that felt massive when it landed on my table. A long, freshly made tortilla wrapped around perfectly grilled steak, stuffed to the brim with flavor. But what truly took it over the top was loading it up with every topping available, pickled onions, fresh cilantro, and all three of their house-made hot sauces. The first bite was out of this world. The tortilla, warm and slightly charred, had that unmistakable homemade texture that held everything together beautifully. The carne asada was tender, juicy, and packed with smoky, savory goodness. The pickled onions added a tangy bite, balancing the richness of the meat, while the cilantro brought in freshness. Then came the sauces--each one delivering a different level of spice and depth, from a smooth heat to an intense, lingering burn that kept me going back for more. Every element fused together into something unforgettable. The textures, the bold flavors, the heat, it was all just next-level. If you're looking for a place that serves authentic, no-nonsense, flavor-packed food, Machetes is the spot. I'll definitely be back, and next time, I might just take on the full-sized Machete!

You're hungry ??? Come here, big quesadillas salsa bar Get lunch & dinner togueter Service on point They also sold desserts I choose empanadas de cajeta sooo good

Awesome Quesadillas! I highly recommend the Quesabirria serve with consome you have to try it ! I

Walked in to a quiet little diner, had to find parking in the street which was a bit hard. Good music playing, and clean establishment. When we ordered the lady seemed annoyed at our party, didn't seem like she wanted to answer our questions as it was our first time there. However, she had a different attitude by the end of the night. The food was amazing, we tried a variety of machetes with different fillings. Will definitely be coming back

Trying to avoid the horror of what is 55 South after 2:30pm (but really, anytime it seems), I detoured to finally try this place. Saw the one by Midway awhile ago but this one was closer to where I was. The point... oh yea, well worth the detour! There are several sizes of machetes available, and several veggie options, YAY. Got the baby rajas/queso (peppers & cheese) machete and it was the perfect size for what I needed at the moment. If I were hungrier maybe the junior would have sufficed but the regular bad boy is definitely not something I would be able to pile away. There's is a salsa and condiment bar if you are dining in other wise they hook you up with lettuce, two salsas, and sour cream on a to go order. Both salsas were excellent. Think I will be making a special trip soon to get this again!

ordene un machete de al pastor y mi acompanante ordeno otro de pollo con asada, ambos estuvieron muy ricos, los precios son razonables y el servicio es bueno en general. buena variedad en salsas.

No flavor as quesadillas ! I rather starve then buy from there All you taste is the cheese and the handmade tortilla

They were recommended to me by a friend and they did not disappoint. I got the machete with steak and my kids got steak tacos. I asked for the meat to be cooked to perfection and they delivered within it hesitation. The ingredients and salsa are fresh and great quality. I highly recommend them because of great service and excellent food

A great lunch unique different and delicious. Pibil is fantastic. I recommend coming hungry

I was starving when I hit this spot so I'm guessing is aiight........ Not much flavor...but when you hungry you hungry

Big quesadillas is an understatement! These things look like Cloud's sword in FF7! Ingredients are authentic Mexican and top quality - especially the cheese which often ruins cheap taqueria quesadillas. Meats were all prepared well. The place is clean and while kept for a humble taqueria. Staff was attentive and friendly, seemed to be enjoying their jobs even. The salsas are amazing. I regularly eat spicy Mexican food and am accustomed to habanero and other powerful flavors - but I am not joking when I say the cashew salsa here is dangerously hot! Even my hardcore Mexican spice lover friends agree it's intense! Try a dot first, if you smear it all over your quesadilla you might not be able to handle it!

The Machete Birría was one of the most delicious things I've ever ate. Came with a cup of consommé. Could easily feed two people. Definitely recommend this spot!

Today I went with the Machete jr. mine filled with the rajas poblanas and the chicharron prensado, green sauce. any filling option is fantastic and delicious. A great variety of Mexican sodas as well as aguas frescas like horchata and Jamaica. I highly recommend this place. Friendly service and staff. They also offer burritos and bowls and dessert .the flan is very delicious!

I'll go ahead and say it, these are probably the best quesadillas in Chicago. Not because they're soooo big but because the flavor is amazing! If you like spicy, get the hottest sauce but be careful it's deadly! They let you grab three toppings, usually get the tinga de pollo, flor de calabaza and chicharron rojo. I wish I could eat one everyday!

I wanted a spot that had handmade tortillas...this place is it!! I ordered the machete junior with chicken and it was delicious and affordable!

It has been a while since the last time Me and my Wife were there, we really love that place, miss those Yummy machetes... Soon we'll be there....

Delicious quesadillas! didn't know they had Chicharron prensado and cochinita definitely trying them next time and then I might give it a 5 star

We went to this place months ago and this review is definitely long overdue. We were intrigued by the name of the spot and we really love quesadillas and knowing that they have big quesadillas we did not hesitate and try it. It was our first time and the staffs are really nice who gave us recommendations. An order of a quesadilla was really big that can fit to two person and it is perfect for my sister and I. It was super quick and for the very first time we were really surprised to see a quesadilla that big served to us. Honestly, it was good but not that really good. What I mean is that, everything in it is kind of fresh and well-seasoned and tastes good especially the salsas and the steak and asada in it however, it is not the quesadilla that we expected. It was good no doubt and the price is fair and reasonable but I still prefer the usual quesadilla than this big, maybe it is because my first time to eat it but when it comes to the taste it is fine but definitely not something special. Still, this place is a nice spot and if you wanted some unique and different food like they have then this spot been for you.

My favorite spot for quesadillas I had a steak one and another of al pastor for some reason for me the al pastor was the best one, their green hot sauce has some guac careful its spicy but really good of course if you want that added kick to your quesadilla.

I'm between 3-3.5 stars. Place is pretty bare looking. I wished the menu was a bit more descriptive. Next time I'll try and load up the extra and eat it that way. We ordered a nopales, pork skin with red sauce and lomo. I didn't try the nopales, but I would order the lomo again. I will return to give others a try. Also, why aren't those Mexican Coke ever that cold?

This place has really good food but if you decide to do take out they charge you for the salsa. I was quoted 55 cents a container. Who does that ? The steak quesadillas are the best ones the others fall a bit short. The food is good but i guess they really want you to eat here. The decor is ok but parking is a bit of a hassle as the restaurant sits right on archer. I will try to continue to support this business ,but when you nickel and dime your customers it leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

Poor customer service. They need to really learn how to talk to incoming customers properly and not completely ignore them. This isn't the first time, but the second time.

My fishing buddy told me about this place.He told me I HAAAD TO try them.Finally made it over here.And he was right.These machetes are definitely delicious not to mention BIG.I went with the BIGGEST ONE cause Im a big eater.Lets just say Im not a small portion guy.And for $11 this monstrosity certainly did the job.I also ordered a cafe de olla which has a hint of cinnamon in it.Hit the spot on a below zero Chicago day thats for sure.Really enjoyed the salsa station they have.Tried four different salsa.My 2 favorites were the cacahuate salsa(peanut) and the avocado salsa.These salsas are DEFINITELY authentic Mexican salsas.And the giant tortillas are hechas a mano(made by hand) in the traditional Mexican way.Im 100% Mexican and I had never heard of machetes to be quite honest.After doing my research I discovered that machetes are a popular street food in Mexico City.My family is from Durango and Zacatecas so it didnt surprise me that I had never heard of them with me being from Chicago and all.Lucky for us Chicago is a WORLD CLASS CITY with WORLD CLASS CUISINE!!! I definitely recommend trying their machetes.Place is rather small.Its a hole in wall type of place.Thumbs up!!!

Really tasty food! We took a while to eat it so it was cold but good nonetheless! Will be going back soon

Machetes quesadillas is a copy of las quecas Same but double quesadilla Same guisados same salsas Not impres Plain space tables chairs Large trays for a big quesadilla I will not miss it You forget to make red onion super spicy that's it

I wish there was a location by my house because WOW!!!! Its a small but cute and clean place. The menu is pretty much self-explanatory so its just a matter of what you are craving for on your huge quesadilla. I love the fact that they offer a topping bar so after your food comes off the grill, you have the option of putting your choice of sauce and topping on it.The quesadillas comes in different sizes so don't assume you just have to order the big one but if you have a party of 2 you can get about a good 4-5 tacos out of it when you split the huge one. Staff was friendly and accommodating as well.

This place is super chill, The lady at the counter was super cool. It feels like I traveled to Mexico when I'm inside.

Great place! Very structured setup very simple yet delicious menu! Salsas are a big deal to me they have to have a nice kick and loads of flavor and this place has both! I'll definitely be back for more.

Came here on a busy Sunday walked up to place my to go order, I ordered 4 Machetes 3 steak and one chicken. They also had jamaica so I ordered a medium one. The restaurant was small and quaint. It was busy for a Sunday, I noticed a small area with fixings to add to your food while dining in. I was informed that my toppings would be separate and placed into my to-go bag. Once I had the chicken and im guessing since I did not state which chicken I wanted my machete was half shredded chicken marinated in red sauce and half a kind of ground chicken which both was good and it allowed me to taste both. My friends had the steak, they were not to descriptive but said it was tasty and they would be back. All in all it was a very good meal, but i like all things mexican.

Let's start off by saying this place would be a perfect 5 stars. but simply because of the parking situation I had to put a 4 star review. You gotta find parking right off Archer and sometimes it gets hectic during rush hour. But other than that, the food was phenomenal. Even when the place is busy it would not take more than 10 minutes for your food to reach your table. And the coffee is to die for, I highly recommend it with Mexican bread...

This place is da bomb. You can order big quesadillas filled with whatever. Staff is friendly and everything tastes homemade. I can't wait to go back!

Greasy and lacking flavor. Tasted like corn meal. Not worth the $9. My boyfriend got diarrhea. A large portion of diarrhea is still diarrhea. Not the cleanest dive. Probably why he got sick.

Fiiiiiiiiirst!!!! Well, Yelpers, I done visited this place after driving by last week and seeing the hilarious sign hanging outside in a neighborhood I usually associated with the other love of my cultural life: all things Polish. Not too often you have a Polish funeral home across the street from a Mexican ice cream joint and a quesadilla hot spot! Parking was a tad hard to find as it was rush hour. Holy crap I forgot what Archer Ave. traffic was like during that 4-6pm rush. Whewwww! So once that was sorted out, we had the pleasure of looking at the wall mounted menu as two very genteel and polite ladies allowed us to peruse the shop and ask questions. We had no idea what was in store for us. I ordered the Huitlocoche and Rajas con Queso Machete quesadilla, which translates into 20 inches of cheese and veggies with a small salad bar for you to add onions, lettuce, and mild-white-people-friendly all the way to my-butt-is-going-to-hurt-after-this-isn't-it? super hot salsa. We of course, being ever ready brought wine to quench our thirst and spite the sala gods. Franzia is heaven sent, am I right or what?! So, yeah two long machetes and a nice size veggie and squash flower salad later we just sat around laughing and letting all the goodness we consumed work its way down the 'ol GI tract. MMM...MMM..MMM...I kinda wish SPW was there to have enjoyed it with us ( :_ ( ) as we were laughing our asses off and even took a picture for their Facebook at the maitre's request. Sure, us having fun and enjoying your food? Why the heck not?! They have a wide variety of toppings, veggie and meats, except you won't find menudo on the menu as one smart ass came in asking for this evening. But what we had was quite tasty and well prepared. The ladies and the back kitchen staff were plenty friendly and I will stop by next time I have to attend a Polish wake across the street, or sooner really, cuz this is the only place that I know of that has these giant quesadillas! Wooooot!

A friend of mine tagged in on this place on fb and I love big giant quesadillas (that's what she said) so I had to try it out. I had the chicharrón one and omg. Heaven in my mouth. My bf had tinga and he said he would have liked more tinga but I think he's crazy. We took it to go because there was no available tables and I was hangry. Ain't nobody got time for that. Prices are great also. So I would have given 5 stars but there are some things that definitely need improvement. 1. They need a number plan for the tables. I got there and was waiting for a table. Then someone got up and a lady, who got there after me, ran to the table and sat her fat ass down. Not cool. I feel a one day a fight is going to go down. I am sick or else I would have punched her face. 2. The trash can is located next to where they put the quesadillas waiting to go out to the tables. That's a major no no to me 3. Wait time is a little long but they're made fresh and it was a Sunday afternoon so that's expected. 4. I saw the cooks drinking pop out in the open. Cross contamination people. 5. If someone has to go to the bathroom they pass the stove where they cook. This possibly can't be safe or clean.

As sterling as the reviews of the Machetes Big Quesadilla are, they cannot do it justice. As simple as the food is, it is exponentially more delicious. I came here last week and ordered a quesadilla with huitlacoche. The cook measured out a ball of corn masa, pressed the ball into what would become a very tasty tortilla, sprinkled on some cheese, spread some huitlacoche on the cheese, folded the tortilla, and then served up the epitome of delicious. I drove away happy. Then I circled the block, came back and did it all over again. It was just that good. The only drawback is that I have to wait until Friday to return. Do yourself a favor and go.

We really enjoyed our meal last night for dinner. There was an option to get a smaller quesadilla but we both wanted a jumbo one to ourselves. I had steak while my boyfriend had the chipotle chicken, both were really tasty and they were made with cheese and then you can add the other things at the salad bar. I wish things were more labeled so were would have been more aware of what sauces were available but there was also a language barrier because it was our first time there so we had no idea what we were doing. But it was still a good experience and our quesadilla was very enjoyable. We also garb a drink each had a jumbo and surprisingly the horchata was just perfect. It did not have such a strong cinnamon flavoring compared to other places. The pricing was pretty reasonable as well. We will definitely be back!

It's my 2nd time coming here. Let me start off by saying that the staff is very nice and the place is clean although small. I've been to las Quecas before and to another quesadilla spot nearby (I can't think of the name), so I was a little hesitant to try this place because the other 2 weren't that great in my opinion. Let's move on to the quesadilla. The tortilla is very flavorful. I ordered the machete and you're able to put 2 fillings in there. I had 1/2 with chorizo and papa, the other half with pork skin in read sauce. I also had a machete jr with steak filling; all were delicious! Last time I came I had the shredded beef and chorizo with potatoes. The machete is HUGE! The Machete Jr is still big in my opinion. Overall I highly recommend that you try this spot. I'll be back to try new fillings in the near future

Their food and salsas are soooo good! I'd say that they're slightly on the "pricey" side but once you consider the ingredients -- especially the homemade tortilla -- then you understand why. Nice customer service and the horchata is delicious too.

Nice ppacr for a quick bite to east. Good quesadillas and burritos! Nice salsa bar too to add some extra flavor. Only downside is there's no chips and salsa or any other sides real.

Tried the tinga quesadilla and it was fireeee. Loved it.! My boyfriend tasted it and loved it as well. He had the asada one i dont recall the flavor but i loveddd the tinga. It is ginormous! Also loved the salsa/ingredient bar they have. Self serve. Will be going back.

The food and ambiance is great. Regarding the Machete Jr., it's a bit too pricey for the size they serve you.

Everything was delicious !!! The girls were very nice as well. Definitely recommend. My boyfriend and I go all the time.

It is amaaaaaaaaziiiiinnng. Go if you like humongo delicious, quesadillas with flamin hot salsa...and if you're vegetarian and a drinker you're in luck. BYOB plus multiple veggie options. Liquor store next door and free street parking!

BIIIIGGGG quesadillas close to Midway! I love that they have traditional Mexican quesadillas like the ones in Mexico City! They also have vegan options, including fresh juices!

The food was okay my husband order the big machete with steak and it lack salt... there this section where you could put any topping um it was missing tomato I mean if you going to have onions, cilantro , lettuce doesn't make sense for there to be tomato? But overall okay they had different salsa to pick from .

Good taste, but nothing to die for. Don't let the "big quesadilla" hype get you excited because it'll just ruin your expectations. Tortilla too overwhelming and too much, less tortilla more ingredient, please!

First that all, I like to write a little more descriptive experience of the places I visit and review. I hate to put four sentences (positive or negative) or use yelp as a way to complaint of bad food or service. This is my experience and only my experience My wife, my daughter and I decided to visit Machetes on a Saturday afternoon. They have parking at the bank, but we found street parking very easy. The place was full but found a table. Walking inside the restaurant you can smell the fresh made corn tortillas, the wonderful aroma, and imagine the toothsome texture of nixtamalized corn. After looking at the menu and discussing who was ordering what (we wanted to try all of them), we ordered 3 quesadillas. Mushrooms, half rajas and cactus, and half huitlacoche and zucchini flower, also 2 coffees and water. While authentic quesadillas are greatly different than your typical Mexican grub (Tacos de Asada) that most Americans are use to, I grew up eating Mole, Nopales, Huitlacoche, Flor de Calabaza, etc... As Mi Abuelita and my mom where culinary gurus, this better be an "A" Game! My wife had rajas and cactus and she swears that it was the cherry on top... My daughter ordered the mushrooms quesadilla and she really cleaned her plate... I had the squash blossoms with a nice sweet flavor. The huitlacoche was as expected with a funky fungi/mushroom flavor with a hint of smoke and corn. Quesadillas were tasty and good size. Not the type you get from Mexican taco places with good quality cheese and not the greasy giant oozy cheese kind that lead to obesity, more the kind that makes you happy eating it because it hits the spot without making you feel like crap later. I have seen other quesadilla places make them with cheap cheese like Food, Nuestro Queso, and El Mexicano which are low quality and too greasy to use in quesadillas. Also, there's a condiments bar with salsas, chopped onions, etc. that we really enjoyed. Some of the salsa are very very spicy... But we went for more. Vegetarians, have no fear, there are good vegetarian options as well as cheese-less to take the full flavor of the fresh made tortilla with your favorite filling... All are VERY good. I've tried various spots in Chicago area including Little Village, Pilsen, Cicero, etc... and this one did not disappoint us. The prices are competitive, employees are ok, but need to work with their people skills, the place needs more decor, and bathrooms in the front. But I'm there to share good food with my family and not to have a conversation with the employees or admire art on the walls. I'm very picky about Mexican cuisine, and this is the best quesadillas I've had so far... we will be going back very soon.

This is a great place and when your in a hurry you can call and they will have your order ready for you for the busy days when you're just running and the prices are great

Was very good. First time trying, quesadillas are huge. Place is bare looking as others said but food itself was very tasty. Service was good, pricing wasn't too bad and wait time was decent. Good spot, not the best but definitely good.