Sure, the neighbourhood's not THAT great, but El Tapiati stands out with its bright colors and lively atmosphere. This crowded and small eatery is one of the Chicago Tribune's favourite cheap Mexican restaurants. And cheap it is, the average price is $8 for an entree... Not bad! We went there and were not disappointed! The food was plentiful and delicious (I had Pollo al limon and my husband an enchilada). The margaritas are great too. It's very crowded most of the time, so if you're looking for a quiet place, don't go there. Try their specialty, Pechuga a la Tapatia (chicken sauteed with mushrooms, onions and green sauce, cheese with vegetables and rice). We went back there and gave it a try, it was really good. The staff is really friendly but often really busy so, you might need to be patient. We always avoided weekends and peak hours, so we never had to wait for a table.
On another note, their restrooms are cute!
My personal favourite dishes: Pollo al limon, margarita, hot-peaches stuffed pancakes.