patching...
Update: Visit and "Like" the Crystal Lake-Cary Patch Facebook page.....Click Here! ......More Photos & News »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Chowdown Showdown Mexican Food Challenge

Let us know your favorite restaurant by commenting below.

 

¡Ay, Caramba!

We are sure excited to kick off this week's Chowdown Showdown challenge. 

Over the next several days, we will be looking to you to let us know which restaurant has the best Mexican food in McHenry County.

It could be the spot that has the most delicious varieties of free salsa to munch on. Or perhaps they serve up the best chimichanga or beefiest burritos this side of the border. Or maybe they have the best deals on the best tacos that make you go loco thinking about the next time you can go back for more. 

Whatever the reason, let us know your favorite Mexican restaurant in McHenry County by commenting below.

The restaurants with the most comments by 5 p.m. Tuesday will become finalists for this week's Chowdown. We will then post a poll asking readers to vote for their favorite. We will post an article Saturday morning to let everyone know the winner. 

If you are new to the McHenry County Patch Chowdown Showdown, the chowdown is simply a fun and easy way for readers to let us know where their favorite restaurant is for pizza or chili or a burger. You can find all of our past Chowdown's here

With that said, let's get this challenge rolling: When you have a hankering for Mexican food, where do you head? 

Related Topics: Chowdown Showdown

Dave Brandom

7:25 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011

Pablo's in Crystal Lake is a really good place to curb those cravings.

Reply

Lisa N.

9:17 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011

El Molino in Carpentersville and Tacos El Norte in Lake in the Hills have excellent food and good service.

Reply

Kathy

8:22 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011

Algonquin Mexican Restaurant, 648 S. Main St. I love the Flautas!!

Reply

Scott B

1:42 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

I vote for Pablos. Been going there for 12 years and It's the best food and salsa around.

Reply

Donna

7:00 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

I say El Zarape by Radio Shack is the best since the little grocery store La Rosita closed! Great food, nice staff, and really reasonable. AND they serve drinks/beer!
Pablos isn't bad, but not really very authentic and they need to get rid of the gross carpet and put in tile...I have a hard time eating there anymore after seeing the bathroom.

Reply

doneitright

7:35 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

main street station in mchenry.. best Guacamole!!!

Reply

Lexi Stone

9:14 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

Taos El Norte in Algonquin... true authentic FRESH food

Reply

Vicki

6:50 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Nothing better than Su Casa on Ontario, but in the suburbs, all around atmosphere, drinks, staff and food, it's El Moleno in Carpentersville, hands down!

Reply
Comment_arrow

Kathie

12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I agree Su Casa is one of the best in downtown Chicago, and El Cid is the best in Logan Square, however out here is definately Pablo's .

burrito grande

8:57 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary has the best quick and freshly made Mexican food around in my opinion.

Reply

Nicole

8:58 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is AHHHHHHmazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply

Lori

9:01 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

El Molino no question. We used to like Pablos until we saw the employees refilling the chips with their bare hands.

Reply

T Senger

9:18 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is awesome. Great authentic food prepared by a team of great cooks. Quick service and friendly people.

Reply

Phillip Keith

9:25 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande (Cary). Everything is so fresh! Taco Tuesday!!!

Reply

ricky p

10:23 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito grande has my vote always made to pefection and the burrito challenge is amazing

Reply

Anna Affrunti

10:24 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary has the best Mexican food in the area! It's amazing!

Reply

jose

11:07 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

burrito grande in cary has the best mexican food in the area !! very friendly people in there ,

Reply

Michelle Rankin

11:26 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toro's in Huntley!!! Deeeee-lish! (Great food, service & atmosphere hands down!)

Reply
Comment_arrow

Michelle Rankin

12:33 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I heard they were closing too, but they are still posting specials on their Facebook page ~ guess I need to call them to get more info.

Dana Van Hoesen Henning

11:31 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

El Molino's in Carpentersville is the best...hands down!

Reply

Jim

11:51 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is my favorite! They are great people that treat everyone like family.

Reply

Candace

11:57 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary has shrimp and fish tacos to die for!
Candace

Reply

Chris

12:14 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is by far the best carry out Mexican around. Everything is fresh, authentic and made to order by a friendly staff. We've been going there since it opened and it keeps getting better.

Reply

Hugh Persson

1:08 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is the best carry out Mexican food in the area. It is the freshest made to order authentic Mexican food. Their menu options keep getting better too!

Reply

kevin

2:13 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito grande cary is a real sleeper. great fresh food period !

Reply

Michelle Balas Rasmus

2:28 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

second that burrito grande is awesome!

Reply

Kirstin

3:29 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is great! Love the shrimp tacos with mango salsa!

Reply

Lee Atwater

3:55 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is number one by far. Love those burritos!

Reply

Sean Fletcher

5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toro's in Huntley... the best Tex-Mex in the NW burbs for the ten years I've lived here. Yes, they're closing soon, but there's still time to enjoy a killer burrito before it's too late.

Reply

Sarah Myers

5:11 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toros for Tex-Mex. Pablos for authentic Mexican. I will miss Del Toros. Ate there all the time. Some of the best food around.

Reply

Lorrie Palczynski

5:21 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toro's. Get in and try them...there is still time and they have some fabulous specials right now.

Reply

Jay

5:46 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande is tip top you can't go wrong!

Reply

Rea

5:50 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toros!!!! I drive over an hour to get there from Sugar Grove - worth it. Hope they change their minds about closing...

Reply

Dave

7:19 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Del Toros for sure!! Love the food there but sadly they will be closing soon!

Reply

Ann

7:52 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Hands down Del Toros is the best! Not just the best in McHenry County but the best anywhere! It's closing soon and Huntley is losing its best restaurant. There is still time to stop in and enjoy :)

Reply

Angie

8:48 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Another vote for Huntley's Del Toros. Best salsa and their enchilada suizas are divine!! So sad they are closing at the end of the month :(

Reply

Heather

9:01 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary is mucho bueno!!!

Reply

Joe B

1:26 am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Burrito Grande in Cary!!! hands down best mexican food

Reply
Patch_comments_icon

Amie Schaenzer

7:26 pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I wanted to pass this link on to all the Del Toros fans about the restaurant's closing: http://patch.com/A-p0qB. The restaurant close next Friday, Dec. 23.

Reply

suzann hopkins

10:57 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011

Pablos in Crystal Lake has the best fajitas and margaritas!

Reply

Leave a comment