ROJO GUSANO

For me, it was just OK. We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and were able to get a table by the window. It’s a really cute place with amazing art. When I tell you, we love Mexican food that is no understatement. I ordered the Chilaquiles Verde with eggs and my husband had the vegetarian burrito. My dish was a bit underwhelming and not served warm. I left half of it on the plate. While my husband ate his entire burrito, he gave it three stars. We both had their margaritas which again were just OK. We’re rarely in Ravenswood and wanted to check out something new and different. Mission accomplished, but we probably won’t go back.

This place is insanely good with a wide selection of tacos. I had the chicken tinga, pastor, and the baja. Also got the chips and salsas and a mezcalada. All were seriously great.

The atmosphere, food, and service were all a 10/10! They even had live music playing, which added a really nice touch. The food was absolutely delicious, and the horchata—made in-house—was a standout. What really made the experience exceptional, though, was the customer service. The staff made me feel like a regular from the moment I walked in. Hands down, the best service I’ve had in a long time.

Rojo Gusano is a vibrant, mezcal-focused Mexican spot with bold flavors and a fun, energetic atmosphere. The space is colorful and lively without feeling overwhelming. I tried a few tacos and they were packed with flavor — well-seasoned meat, fresh toppings, and tortillas that tasted handmade. Their mezcal selection is impressive, and the staff are knowledgeable if you need recommendations. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, from the salsas to the presentation. It’s a great place in Chicago for a casual dinner that still feels special and a little different from your typical taco joint.

I love the food here, it brings back good memories, the flavor of the dishes is delicious and their signature cocktails are refreshing ✨

These tacos were amazing! 🌮 Super fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Definitely coming back for more!

Friendly and great service. Ordered the steak nachos to share and loved it! This is my second time coming to this restaurant and I would recommend their tacos and nachos.

We got the pork belly taco and carne asada taco, carne asada quesadilla and chips and salsa. The food was delicious. Not super loud. Good music. Like 90s pop. I also had the cafe de olla, it was so tasty. Chairs were wobbly and light so as a plus size lady I was worried but they held up. Its warm and cozy. Decent space between tables.

Delicious food which started with two different types of salsa, one was fairly spicy and one was mild. Great options for vegetarians and a mezcal cocktail that was the perfect blend of smoky and sweet. Staff was extremely friendly, would most definitely eat here again.

This was a pretty mid experience. It's super pretty inside and the staff was super friendly. There was live music and there was a full house. We ordered margaritas which tasted like straight up margaritas mix. I couldn't finish mine. The guac was okay. I went with the tortilla soup which was pretty good. But my friend had 3 tacos and thought they were okay

Came in after touring whiskey distillery they are right next door. Was pleasantly surprised to be handed a brunch menu. Guess it was Saturday! Went with pork belly tacos. They came with sunny side up eggs on them which I was little surprised by.The tacos came with potato wedges. Ordered a michaladea with dos Equis beer.

My husband and his friends came in this past Saturday night. Brought in friends from out of town and friends who recently moved into the neighborhood, very excited to show off the secret gem that is Rojo Gusano. While the live music was entertaining the service was absolute garbage. Without exaggeration the server did not come back to the table for over 30 minutes after initially serving the food. Our table wanted to order additional drinks and the server frequented all the tables around but did not come back to ours. This left a sour taste in our book and has tainted our experience at Rojo Gusano. Incredibly disappointment with the service.

The food is really tasty. Vegetarian tacos and meat tacos on purple tortillas. The beet salad was excellent and fresh. Service was prompt and this place is aesthetically pleasing to look at. The night I visited, there was a live 3 person band playing bluesy sounds.

I love it when I can give a positive upgrade! I came here with my sister-in-law and had a really pleasant experience. We dined at Rojo Gusano for dinner on mother's day and was thrilled to see there was live music! The musician was so talented, rocking out on guitar and singing songs from Amy Winehouse to Lizzo. She really made the vibes fun, I hope she's a regular performer throughout the summer! I was so happy when our server told me they have NA margaritas. With the salt rim and everything! It tasted delicious. Our server was very kind and checked on us frequently throughout the evening. I also enjoyed the food much more this time around! We shared nachos, chips & guac, and the street corn. Everything tasted fresh and was enjoyable. Really happy to have come back here! The churros and ice cream was the perfect way to end the evening.

The decor and service in here is spectacular!! From the food I recommend the Baja fish tacos and the chips and salsa.

Such a beautiful space ! Ahhh Great service and some of the best food I've eaten in awhile ! I can't wait to visit again !

I am still thinking about the best dinner I had here a few weeks ago. I ordered the chips and salsa and the Korean BBQ Rice Bowl. So many good flavors! Turns out I have been snoozing on fried plantains? Tried them here and they were amazing. It was a Saturday night and there was a band playing nice background music. The restaurant was busy, but the food still came out quickly! Great vibes and great service, will definitely be back.

Tacos are pretty expensive ($4.50) and leave a bit to be desired. Margarita is great but is similarly steep in price. Service was awesome and would be the only justification for four stars, however I was overly-struck by food that just seemed to be lacking. Tacos flavors were a bit off- though the Korean Beef and chicken were my favorites of the menu (tried about six of them). Live in the area but will I be back? Not super confident. Good spot for drinks but not food.

Food wasn't your run of the mill Mexican...more like maybe a Spanish style (if I had to guess)? The ceviche I ordered had pineapple in it and was sweet and tangy rather than the usual lime base that I'm used to. It was tasty, just different. My granddaughter's chicken quesadilla had a tomato sauce that tasted a bit like enchilada sauce, which was unexpected- again, good, but not your usual Mexican fare. My Mezcalita (cocktail) was nice and strong, and pretty tasty, and my daughter ordered a Diet Coke on the rocks, lol. That came in a bottle. The decor and ambiance was interesting and fun - classy and nice to look at. The music was good and the place would be good for happy hour or a party. Service was attentive and prices were reasonable. We'd come back for sure!

We stopped in here yesterday because we attended something else in the neighborhood and walked past. The service was good and the food was wonderful. The inside was really nice. Clean and cute. Good variety in the bar, not just tequila. We ordered mojitos and everything was mixed on the spot and the mint was fresh. The food was good and also very fresh. And the space was conversation friendly.

I hadn't planned to eat here but was walking with friends to another place and the restaurant looked warm and inviting, so we checked it out. I was very pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of this place - the wall art, the artificial ferns hanging from the ceiling, the bamboo chairs/walls. They had live music, too! The food was authentically Mexican and reminded me of Oaxaca - bright colors and flavors outside the standard ones at most US Mexican restaurants. Service was friendly. A great place to try something different or bring a date! Only giving 4 stars because it was a little pricey for what you get. Tacos were standard street taco size, so not very big, and were priced at $5 each (or $6.50 each when you factor in tax/tip). That adds up quickly when you order several of them. Drinks were $15 each (or nearly $20 with tax/tip) which was also pretty steep, though the mojito was served in a pint glass so at least you do get more of it. Looking at other tables, the soup and salad/rice bowls gave you better value so that may be worth trying next time. I'll come back, but given the prices, not right away. Still, worth it for a nice night out.

Tried this place out from initially being drawn to the ambiance and the decor. Definitely stayed for the delicious tacos! The food is a little bit pricey but comparable to other eateries in this area. I had the chorizo con papa, pork belly, and fish tacos and all were excellent. One of the best set of tacos i have eaten in years...just wish they were a little bigger for the 4.50/each price tag. Service was quick and multiple staff members were attentive to our table. A great local place - look forward to returning soon.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city. For one thing, the vegetarian options for tacos are more interesting, exciting, and delicious by a country mile than anything else. No boring "bean and cheese" or whatever. Squash and pepitas. The hongos. Mole cauliflower. The meat and fish options are also top notch. The mezcal drinks are amazing. Service is superb, and the location is really fun especially if you sit on the patio on Ravenswood Ave.

What's not to like? Margaritas, first rate. Tacos (garlic shrimp, pork belly, fish) were spot-on. Guacamole and empanadas, really nice. Friendly, attentive service. Definitely will go back.

Food and drinks were ok. Service was very slow despite their being only 3 tables occupied. Meat was overcooked, which made it tough. Overall, ok place for a bite if in ther area.

Good good, fun ambience. The amazing menu is easy to pick and choose different items to explore.

Well, the good news is that the food here is tasty! I loved the large crispy tortillas and the vegetarian tacos were excellent- my whole group eats meat but the veggie combos sounded good and they didn't disappoint. The reason I gave it three stars is because this is definitely a 'gentrified tacos' kind of place. You know what I mean! $13 cocktails, three bite tacos for $5 a pop. Usually the trade off here is menu knowledge; I asked about an ingredient I'd never seen in a drink and got a shrug. The timing was off too because we got our appetizers before we had our drinks. I sat with empty cocktail and water glasses for half the meal and neither another drink or a refill was offered. I'm not super picky about service. As a service industry veteran, I get it. Every place has a different vibe. I wouldn't care whatsoever if the servers didn't know the menu or were halfhearted about refills if this was a lowkey taco place with prices to match but if you're going to charge the same prices as Big Star, I wish the service was a little more hands on. Another weird thing is that two ingredient cocktails are the same price tag as their craft drinks; my friend was charged $13 for a Bombay Sapphire and tonic which, to me, is a lot for a taco place in Ravenswood. Not a bad place but I'm not tripping over myself to return either.

Rojo is an eclectic mix of modern fusion and classic Mexican fare. You can grab carne asada tacos and a Korean bbq rice bowl,with chop sticks, at the same sitting. Mix that with some avante garde jazz and you will find yourself in Rojo. The guacamole and plantains are top notch and the variety of tacos and flavors keep you trying to decide on which to order. Huge menu for those over 21 with just about every libation you can imagine. Staff is very attentive and quick on the orders. Food is fresh and hot. Decor is very kitschy and cool and resembles the menu (eclectic). It holiday lights meets nautical theme mixed with Mexican artistry. Priced right at around $60 - $80 per couple with appetizers and drinks. It's your GO TO when in the area

Always great food and great service. It's our go to Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. Order the Carne Asada burrito!

Was recently introduced to this spot by a friend. Came in at peak time and was greeted warmly and sat immediately. Service was personable and very accommodating. Wonderful folks all around. The food was more than able to keep up with the quality of service. Tacos come out on handmade purple corn tortillas warm and with many great options. Sides were all great! Had the elotes and beans and plantains. All fantastic. Amazing mezcal list also, some real heaters on there. Served properly with orange with spice and crickets and spiced peanuts. They even had raicilla which was a nice surprise. Will 100% be visiting again.

I almost don't want to hype this place up because I want to have a table whenever I need it. Great quality place for tacos and margaritas with a nice selection of tequila and mezcal. I appreciate that they have a good selection of food but unlike most places it's not overwhelming. Also no one talks about this but I will- I LOVE A GOOD GARNISH and this place DELIVERS. No, not crazy like a tropical bar but legit. If you get the spicy mango margarita it comes with a hefty spiced mango slice. Only weird thing I noticed is that the pineapple guacamole tasted effervescent- not saying it's bad but it was a nice little surprise

Brunch option needs work. Hopefully it's just growing pains? $14 is steep for a mimosa anywhere in the vicinity, especially when it was obviously mostly OJ. Our meals were very tasty, but totally drowned in sauce. It felt like we were eating soup after 10 minutes or so. Could not finish. ($75). The space is lovely, and the servers were great. But, seriously, tweak that brunch offering, please!

Pros-cocktails, patio, friendly staff Cons-small portions and overpriced First visit...has a paloma, guac, elite, fish/shrimp/steak taco. All good but there was nothing to them. First stop and probably last.

What a delightful atmosphere and great staff. Margaritas were a little sweet, next time I would ask for no orange, but still very good. We had salsas which were just the right amount of spicy and fresh made chips. The burrito was excellent. It came pretty cut and delicious - solo on the plate but I didn't need anything else. Definitely going back!

Food and drinks were exceptional. Great playlist and transitions to relaxing Spanish tunes to awesome nightlife reggaeton! Interior design is that perfect combo of contemporary rustic as much of Ravenswood lofts look. Parking is easy especially if you arrive earlier in the day. Totally going back for their ceviche. Delicioso!

Cute neighborhood restaurant that looks like a Mexican restaurant and a tiki bar had offspring. Server was nice, but overworked so getting anything was a wait. Husband's and daughter's food came out, but my order was not entered - I asked about my food and the server apologized after checking and said he didn't out my food order in. He apologized profusely. Hubby offered to leave and I said I'd really like to get the meal I ordered - I was hungry. Few minutes later we got our bill, so i asked about my meal. (Maybe it was a separate order or it was being comped for the long wait.) Nope. Order wasn't put in. Ok then. Got to drive home hungry and eat leftovers. Husband and daughter liked their tacos, though. Small but tasty.

While the food itself is rather good (for what you get, and the only reason why this review is getting 2 stars) the place is extremely overpriced for very skimpy portions. Plus we had a really bad experience when a party of us were trying to settle our tab. There were 8 of us paying, and half of us had cash (the check was split up nicely by person). Gratuity was already added to the check and all the cash payers overpaid a by a few dollars on top of that. One of us in the group took the time (with a pen) and organized the rest of the payments for the manager who then took everything and then proceeded to take over 20 minutes to process our 4 credit cards at the end of the night when they were about to and then had the audacity to come back and say "It looks like I'm still missing $15 from you guys." (despite him having more than enough cash and not to mention 4 credit cards he was holding) BEEEE. ESSSSS. We were all dumbstruck but also dying to leave at that point so we just gave him what he wanted and left. That was either super shady, or he's too incompetent to run a restaurant. Either way this place is definitely not worth a second chance.

Sit outside and enjoy a Mezcalita while the sun is still out. The adorable patio seating abuts the sidewalk allowing for ample people watching while enjoying a cool drink. While the tangy lime was certainly refreshing, the Mezcalita lacked quite as much smoke as we were hoping for. Similarly, the Pastor empanadas fell short of our expectations, with larger cuts of meat than anticipated, and a less than stellar sauce. As refreshing as the elotes was, it didn't bring it all together. Overall a nice experience on a great day, but not the best aroundo

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! Friends took us here while we were in town and I know why it is their favorite local restaurant. Will definitely be going here again next time we are in Chicago.

Very nice inside and a western exposure patio. I am assuming it could be a little loud when the trains go by. Food was very tasty, high quality, and good portion size. Having a beer while my takeout order was prepared delightful. Didn't even finish the beer before the order was ready. Waiter/Host very nice and knowledgeable.

The service and ambiance are great! The food is good, but not for me as I prefer more authentic flavors vs fusion. My friends loved the food thoug.

I had placed an order for pickup. Portion very small for what you paid for compared to other Mexican restaurants. Also, only single tortilla for tacos so each taco was falling apart and watery. They should use two tortillas per taco. The place was empty on a Saturday night. I had high hopes for this place but will sadly not be returning again.

I've had a fair share of tacos in my life and have to say these were pretty good. My favorites were the pork belly and fried shrimp (a little more on the salty side). Also get the elotes!! The reasons why I docked stars were although the tacos were delicious, it was a bit small for the price. Also found service to be pretty slow despite the restaurant not being busy. They forgot a shrimp taco for me and didn't come out until the end of the meal. Our waiter was super sweet but the slow service got to me.

The ambiance, service, tacos, margaritas, pineapple guacamole, and ceviche are very good. I wish they had a different band play... but overall good experience.

Nothing like this anywhere as far as I am aware! Super interesting menu items. And a load of mezcal choices. Some of the cocktails are served with grasshoppers which taste sort of like cashews.

Delish tacos and drinks. The food was delivered quick but the tables were sort of sticky - they said it was the paint. Though I trust the staff, I think it would be better if they did another coat of some other type of paint. The place is definitely worth visiting.

This is a review for the pickup. They have a nice online ordering system where you can place your order and specify a pickup time. Could not order delivery as this place is too far from me. They have a nice patio for outdoor dining. They wipe down the tables and chairs and the tables are spaced apart. The waitstaff wears masks. We had a restaurant week taco deal consisting of three tacos (skirt steak), guac and churros. We also ordered a pork belly rice bowl and a separate prime rib taco. The pork belly rice bowl was really good. It comes with peppers, onions and plantains and works as a meal in itself. The sweetness of the plantains worked well with the rest of the dish. The guac was good too - it came with pico de gallo and chips. The tacos - they were fine, nothing special. I also could barely tell the difference between the skirt steak tacos and the prime rib taco. The churro - also nothing special. Not too sweet, came with taco dipping sauce. If they delivered to my area I would probably order again.

Guacamole with pineapples was amazing; didn't love the live jazz band playing. Drinks were great too! Tacos felt a little lackluster in flavor.

This place is great. The food is phenomenal and the service is excellent. I feel like these tacos don't need a lot on them, they're so satisfyingly delicious. I do wish they were bigger lol but this is my new spot for sure. The shrimp tacos are probably my favorite next to chicken. I also had rice and churros from here and it was all so good. Id recommended trying it out, to each its own but I will be back. They also catered a work fundraiser and did amazing. I didn't hear a single complaint about the tacos that night.

Very friendly staff, nice warm room, great tasting food; big drink that went down quickly....

We had a birthday dinner and we pretty much tried all the cocktail and mocktails on their menu, taking full advantage of the freedom of wanting to experience good drinks. This restaurant is the best example of doing productive living by enjoying their food and their drinks.

Terrible service. We had to go grab our own water pitchers and fill our glasses ourselves. Food was small portioned and made with little care. It's a Mexican place that doesn't know what a quesadilla is. Don't go here.

Wait staff is amazing, food is fantastic, not tons of options but what they do have is delicious. Have only been twice and plan on going again!

After attending an event where appetizers were only served and none that would go well with a vegetarian diet, decided to stop here , they definitely exceeded my expectations, will definitely return

First time here. Love the atmosphere and the outside seating was perfect. Finally a restaurant not taking short cuts. The food was fresh and flavorful, the shrimp on our salad was a generous portion and the service was great. We will back for sure.

I've been here 3-4 times over the last year and I don't know if it was due to Covid or just non busy season, but always had great food and service. I don't leave many reviews, probably 5 over the last 5 years, but the service wee terrible this evening. Like one of the worse places I have eaten at in the last 6 months. It took 2 minutes for them I sit me, then 25 minutes to even get a glass or water. From then on, if I wanted anything, I had to get up out of my seat to find my waiter to order. Literally one of THE WORSE service dinners I have had in the last couple years. I will have recommended this place in the past, but I will NOT be coming back for the foreseeable future. Waiter gave very little care as well. SMH.

I really, truly, genuinely wish I could give Rojo Gusano more than two stars here. My 2nd star to them is well-deserved, as it's because their food is delicious. But I don't intend to dine here in person again. For context, I used to visit Rojo Gusano fairly frequently. But the past three times I've been, the wait time between ordering and getting served have been unusually and unbearably lengthy. I'm not ordering anything slow or off-menu anyway - usually it's tacos, quesadillas, burritos, etc. On my most recent visit, my party of four waited - I'm not exaggerating - two hours for our meals to come out. This is after (well past the 1-hour mark) we said something to the waitstaff and not one, not two, but three different restaurant employees told us that our meals would be out shortly. You would think that at least part of our bill would've been comp'ed - it wasn't. Speaking to the food itself, and if I haven't completely deterred you, then I absolutely love their Coliflor con Mole Taco, Hongos Taco, and Papa Gratin. (Pork belly is usually a favorite of mine, but I'm not a fan of their Pork Belly Taco.) You may arch your eyebrow at their guacamole containing pumpkin seeds and pineapple, but it's well worth it. That said, I'd try these as takeout rather than dine-in. Their cocktails are overpriced for what you get.

First time coming here and I'm so glad I finally made it. I live within walking distance to Rojo Gusano and I've always wanted to try it, but the location is a bit hidden away and unfortunately I tended to forget about it as an option. BUT now with most restaurants still being closed and me having time to walk around the neighborhood more, I couldn't help but notice Rojo's adorable patio and that they were open to customers dining in again. The way things are working at the moment is that you order all of your food at the register inside, you pay and then head outside with a number to your table. Your food and drinks are then brought out to you. The system worked efficiently and it was an easy process. The tables outside are well spaced out and I thought service was great. I was very pleased with my tacos-the flavor and the amount of meat they put in them helps to justify the price of 3-4 bucks per taco. My drink was tasty as well and very reasonably priced (under 10 bucks I believe). My partner had an al pastor burrito and he said it was really good, as well. We all finished with churros (which I've been craving so hard in quarantine). It even came with chocolate sauce for dipping! Overall, I had a great time at Rojo. The patio is cozy and it was relaxing to eat under the strings of lights off of a quiet neighborhood street. I will totally make coming here more of a regular thing!