It’s no secret that Regina Girls love to eat and Mexican food is definitely one of our favorites.  Every time the cafeteria makes its nachos and taco salad combo, the lunch line goes out into the hallway. Outside of Regina’s cafeteria, the ever popular Chipotle is a common destination for after-school gatherings. 

But as yummy as Regina food and Chipotle can be, it can get a little boring ordering the same Americanized interpretation of Latin-American gourmet food.

In honor of September being Latino Heritage month, I made it a mission to stray away from the McDonald’s Corporation’s version of a taco and venture into new Hispanic eateries nearby.  Here’s what I found:

Wholly Frijoles            $$

I dined at Wholly Frijoles on a particularly chilly September evening.  However, the restaurant’s atmosphere was anything but chilly.  Upon entering, the joint was packed  with customers, but the staff was still determined to make everyone’s experience enjoyable.

This quaint little restaurant, located on 908 W Touhy Avenue is the perfect option if you want to get quality Mexican food and a semi-casual dining experience with family and friends.

One notable aspect to the meal that I particularly enjoyed was that the dishes were not your stereotypical heavy and greasy Mexican meal.  We ordered the classic steak tacos, which was flavored to perfection but not to the point where the tortilla was literally dripping with grease.

The vegetarian option was a different story.  I ordered the vegetable fajita, which was came piping hot on a sizzling skillet.  It came with an assortment of vegetables traditional to the dish, but it was drenched in oil as if the chef was trying to compensate for the lack of meat. 

That being said, Wholly Frijoles will be especially enjoyable if you venture away from America’s favorite taco-and-burrito combo and try more adventurous options. We ordered an appetizer called el Ceviche natural, a combination of scallops, shrimp & snapper, salsa, and cilantro and cured in lime juice.  It was zesty and savory, and a pleasantly light option to hold us over before our main entrees came.

For meat lovers, another dish I highly recommend is the Especial del chef: dilecatable chicken breast stuffed with poblano pepper, goat cheese and mushrooms.  The chicken was juicy and spiced to perfection, perfectly combined with a hearty tomato sauce.

Generally, Wholly Frijoles prides itself in creating traditional food with a special twist, and after the dinner I received, they certainly lived up to their expectations. Besides the fajitas, everything, even the refried beans and salsa, was homemade to perfection.  Our waiter was personable and helpful at the appropriate times.  I left feeling pleasantly plump and overall pleased with the experience. 

El Depot Nuevo        $$$

Located on 1139 Wilmette Ave, El Depot Nuevo is just 5 minutes away from school.  The restaurant was renovated from an old train station, giving the place a warm, rustic feel.  It is the perfect option if you and your gal-pals want to dine after a shopping excursion at Old Orchard.

It was extremely busy when I went, and we had to wait 30 minutes before we finally sat down  Luckily the chips and salsa were already at our table when we were seated.  One thing that caught my attention was that the tortilla chips were made of flour, not corn.  They were crisp and toasty, suggesting that they just came out of the oven.

We started with savory bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers stuffed with chorizo and Chihuahua cheese, cilantro and sour cream.  One appetizer that really stole the show was the pork tamale, which they embellished with a tangy tomatillo salsa, corn relish, and sour cream. A hint of lime also gave a refreshing new taste to the traditional Mexican dish.

If you want tacos with a bit of edge, Depot Nuevo is the place to go.  The steak and chicken tacos we had were charred on the grill.  The toppings were not compensation for the juicy meat, however.  These tacos were elegantly presented with a tomato, onion, cilantro, and queso medley that blended really nicely with the hearty meat flavor.

However, I would stick to tacos.  We also ordered the Mahi-Mahi Tuna Dinner Special, which was good but a little lacking in flavor compared to everything else.

The best part of the meal was dessert: we had the Pastel de Tres Leches, a sponge cake soaked in a mixture of three kinds of milk and topped with whipped cream and strawberries. 

In general, Depot Nuevo is a great option if you want to try modern yet innovative spin to traditional Latin-American cuisine.  This restaurant is on the pricey side, but in my experience, it was well worth it.

Los Comales       $

If you’re craving Mexican food that’s quick and affordable, Los Comales is the place for you.  It’s conveniently located near Notre Dame College Prep, 9055 N Milwaukee Ave, so it’s a great destination after cheering on the Dons at a football game.

Los Comales is not your typical fast-food taqueria.   Don’t be fooled into thinking that its “quick-casual” atmosphere automatically means that the food will be average.  I would even argue that out of the three restaurants, Los Comales had the best tacos.  The beef was marinated to perfection, the chicken fried and crispy.  I found the tortillas they were served on to be particularly enjoyable; they were soft, moist and heated to the perfect temperature.

We also tried their pork tamale.  It was not as elaborate as the one we had at Depot Nuevo, but it was simple yet sufficient.  We finished it all.

Those who hate spice beware- the free salsa we were served had a bit of heat.  After a few scoops, my extremely sensitive mouth was burning and I was sipping water for the next 10 minutes.

Another thing I noticed was the clientele.  When I went on a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed with people.  I observed that the majority of the families that were dining there spoke Spanish.  It felt like I was transported to Central America!

The best part? Los Comales is extremely affordable- each taco was only $2.20!

This being said, I highly recommend this joint for those times when you want a quick fix of authentic Mexican fare while still getting a good bang for your buck.