Frontera Grill

Frontera is owned by Rick Bayless, who wants to bring authentic Mexican food to Chicago. This place will not disappoint you. There wasn’t a wait on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. We shared bites of queso which comes with tortillas. It’s a thicker cheese with poblanos & chorizo that you lay in the tortilla. I also had a tamale which was extremely flavorful. It was filled with lamb and steamed in the banana leaf. This is a must stop if you’re looking for authentic!

My picks veer toward tamales, sopacitos, juices, and desserts. (And, though I'm admittedly not a sandwich person, I had a Cubano at the O'Hare Frontera, and that was good too.) Plates are good for sharing or being greedy, though certain dishes are definitely XL. Good vibes for good company.

Excellent place for authentic Mexican food. I have eaten here several times and every meal was fantastic!

Love the food, nice place as well. I prefer this taste palette in the summer

For my last meal of 2015, I went to Frontera Grill's NYE meal. Holy cow, I should've starved myself all day so that I could finish all the food that was brought to my table.

The aesthetic and atmosphere of Frontera is wonderful and just lights a desire to travel through Latin America. We were able to taste 5 different appetizers and an entree each. I absolutely loved every bite that I took.

Their cocktails aren't anything to overlook either. I thoroughly enjoyed my margarita and could've easily tossed back an entire pitcher if given the opportunity.

Definitely one of our staple Chicago restaurants.

For this upscale Mexican restaurant, Rick Bayless hits it out of the park. Reservation is a must, or you can line up around 4pm outside and get on the short list and they will give you a phone call and you have 20ish minutes to make it there. I have done this and have been seated by 6pm, which was perfect. The menu is ever evolving, definitely worth the visit.

A very favorite restaurant. Been in Chicago a long time. The Bayless' helped make Chicago the foodie city it is. Delicious food! Gourmet Mexican food.

More relaxed than Topolobampo but still exceptional. Not a fan of celeb chef spots but Rick Bayless consistently delivers.

I've been waiting years to eat at a Rick Bayless restaurant, so it was the first restaurant reservation I made after booking my flight to Chicago. It did not disappoint. Yummy blackberry margaritas, followed by slightly spicy guacamole and refreshing tropical ceviche. I didn't love my grilled fish, though I probably just selected the wrong entree. It wouldn't stop me from returning again and again though.

Owned by Rick Bayless along side with Tompolobampo where you get some good Mexican food that is basically the same as its neighbor, just different menu's.

Getting in required a wait in line but it was oh so worth it. The menu is alway changing, but try something with mole, a savory chocolate sauce. You can start of lunch with mango guacamole and a winter green salad. Oh. I want to be there now!

Ricky Bayless is a Master of Mexican foods. This place definitely delivers flavorful plates and unique mexi-dishes! Pricey and probably not worth a wait but still great food!

Rick Bayless, the chef of Frontera Grill, is well known for winning Top Chef Master, having a TV show, and writing numerous cookbooks. Frontera Grill is a casual Mexican restaurant in Chicago that gets very busy, so reservations are highly recommended well in advance. The restaurant has fun and colorful paintings and sculptures all over. In terms of food, the ceviches are good, but the guacamole is the must try. The mole dishes and anything with beef are the way to go in terms of entrees and go great with a margarita or horchata. Be prepared for a spicy kick and strong flavors, no matter what you order. Definitely save room for the duo flan. The staff is attentive, but the entrees took quite awhile to arrive. Tables are placed pretty close together, so it gets loud and you don’t have much privacy, but all in all, this is a good place to go for Mexican food in Chicago.

Rick Bayless's Frontera Grill lives up to the hype and delivers high quality and tasty Mexican food. The guacamole is the best I've ever had and the steaks are tender and flavorful. For dessert, I would highly recommend the Flan with candied bacon.

Famed Rick Bayless restaurant serving up delicious Mexican fare. While getting a reservation is tricky, you can always grab a seat at their festively decorated bar.

I was looking for something light, so I had the chipotle mushrooms with tortillas and a signature margarita for lunch. The mushrooms had an amazing flavor and spice to them.

Will definitely be back to try their dinner!

Quite honestly, I was somewhat skeptical with the idea of "fancy" Mexican food but Rick Bayless and the Frontera Grill was able to make me think, "wow, this is like tasting Mexican food again for the first time."
Being from California, this is quite a feat.

The must have item here is definitely the Chicken Mole, it brought a complexity of flavor that was hard to beat.

Love Rick Bayless. Every time I come to Chicago I come to this place for great food and great (although pricy) margaritas.

Best Mexican (real) in Chicago. Incredible Margaritas!