El Burrito Loco

We frequent the El Burrito Loco in Aurora and really like their food. We were in Joliet and decided to give this location a try, so we ordered our usuals. Everything was sub-​par. So disappointing. We ordered chips and guac — both lacking in flavor and guac was odd, almost watery, texture. Also ordered a giant burrito — strangely different and disappointing compared to Aurora. And we ordered steak flautas, they got the order wrong and gave us chicken — odd chicken texture and the flauta shells were no where close to the delicious yumminess in Aurora. Pass on this location. Also, expensive — especially given the lack of quality.

If I could give this no stars I would… I received food poisoning from this place… Don’t trust it and won’t be eating there again

I can’t believe the good reviews on this place. I got the steak taco dinner and the meat was so chewy I couldn’t even eat it. Prices are ridiculous for the quality

Fantastic food! Decent prices. I wish there was a burrito loco back home in California!

Their food is always good. The prices are a little high but nothing terrible. Their selection is also exceptional. Just be careful, the girl who runs the cash register isn’t what you’d call friendly.

They used to be good maybe 5 or 6 years ago. Now the tacos aren’t even average. People that are giving this such a high rating clearly have not tasted anything better.

Count on a very long wait and your order might be correct 50% of the time.

Chilaquiles muy ricos. Salsa picosa estilo mexicano.
Lo que si no me gustó fueron los huaraches parecen tostadas. Muy duros por que los fríen en aceite en lugar de poner los en el comal. Como sea salen muy duros.
Servicio 1 de 5 comida rápida no tienen meseros por lo tanto no se tiene que dejar propina pero los precios son más altos que un restaurante con servicio.
La tipa necesita sonreír, disfrutar su trabajo. Parece que esta ahí a la fuerza.

This place is the primary reason I will never become a vegetarian! The steak burritos are habit-​forming, especially with the green salsa!
Our band will have gigs that last until 1am, so we pack up extra fast just so we can make it to El Burrito Loco before the drive-​up closes at 3am or so. If we don’t make it in time the disappointment is killer!
It’s not a fancy place, but you won’t care once you start eating! You can’t beat the people here either, they are always friendly and efficient.

Worst Mexican food I have ever had. I ordered the taco dinner. Really the chicken tasted like it came out of a can and no flavor to anything. Rice was sooo dry.

So with my kids worried about where to go and found this little gem great food clean place helpful staff be prepared you order and pickup your food at counter no wait staff or typical chips and salsa at table for you but I highly recommend the food great vegetarian options also!

Very good food and catering. Been going with friends and family and they fall in love with their dishes. I ordered their catering for a small gathering and my coworkers raved about the meat for days.

Came here for a quick lunch and was surprised at how clean the location is. The staff is friendly and the food came out fast. I got the steak torta and the bread came out warm and fluffy. Size was right and the price is cheap. They also have a big menu and small combo specials.

I always used to get the steak tacos on corn with a rice water and it was so good until I got food poisoning from here, I thought I had the stomach flu but after my doc said it was from the food boy was I wrong. They always take awhile in the drive thru it’s what to be expected for fresher cooked food but this time they didn’t it was done in under a minute and I thought maybe they had more people there or just got done whipping up a batch of steak. I have an iron stomach but the tacos won. I woke up throwing up tacos with a side of explosive diarrhea. I missed work and couldn’t leave the bed for the whole day with my stomach feeling like it was tearing apart. I’m not saying don’t eat here just take my Unilocal as a warning I could of just been one of the lucky ones who had a lazy cook who didn’t handle food properly.

Great place and cheap
Only one thing drain out the chicken a little bit. It becomes super messy

I stopped here with my wife and 3 older children for lunch after a morning hike along the Kankakee River. I would agree with the reviews already posted in that the food is very good with an average fast food type atmosphere. I loved the Guacamole and the burritos are huge (too big really) for one person to eat.
Friendly staff. Fresh ingredients. We all liked it.
Would stop again if in the area.

(I really expected by the reviews on Unilocal for this place to be a real restaurant, but make note, its like 1 tiny notch above Mexican fast food. No servers, no bar, etc.)
For Joliet standards this place is a 4 star place, for Los Angeles or Mexico’s standards this place is a 2 star, so I’m going middle of the road w/​this review.
I ordered the combo platter to best gauge how well this place can do an assortment of Mexican’s greatest hits: taco, enchilada and beans.
Sadly, this place really could have been amazing, but the chicken was a little dry and flavorless, and the beans clearly didn’t have that creamy lardy consistency that is synonomous with Mexican food.
The salsa squirters on the table, however, were filled with delicious green and red salsa that completely brought the food to life. But by my standards one shouldn’t have to rely on salsa alone!
What I CAN say was delicious was their guacamole. I also use guac as the litmus test for good Mexican and this place wins on that challenge! The guac was seasoned perfectly, not watered down, nor filled with sour cream to beef up the guac. it was really good and I would go back just for it and the chips to dip in.
They do serve beer there,

Wow… what a pleasant surprise. Decided to stop here for dinner at the tail-​end of our recent road trip based on Unilocal reviews. So glad we did.
Although the interior looks quite uninspired and chain-​like, the extensive menu was anything but. So many options, large portions, deliciously authentic! A particular treat was the rice milk drink (tasted like rice pudding… sounds odd, soooo good).
Our only complaint, we don’t have El Burrito Loco in Michigan. Would definitely stop here again. Yum!

Joliet’s finest. Great prices with good food. This is Joliet’s Chipotle, if you will. This place has good service and most importantly, the food is alwats served fresh.
You really cant go wrong here. My personal favorite is steak and potatoe taco.

I grabbed a quick vegetarian taco here over the weekend. I thought it was really good, and cheap at $ 1.69.
There’s a bowl of complimentary chips and salsa on a table near the register, you can use the tongs to put as many as you would like into a paper bowl, or on the plate your food comes on. They did not have little cups for the salsa, so I just put it into a separate paper bowl (a little messy that way).
A big thumbs up for the horchata (a delicious sweet cinnamony rice-​water beverage). It was spot-​on perfect in terms of sweetness and texture, very refreshing. I’ll be back!

A surprising 5 stars for a suburban Mexican restaurant!
I was introduced to this place a few years back by my friend Dean after a long day of paintball. I already had a tradition for breakfast, but dinner was always random.
Well Dean lived near the area and recommended El Burrito Loco, and with a name like that, how can you refuse?
I LOVE Mexican food — maybe that’s why subconsciously the majority of the women I’ve dated have been Mexican, hmmm — so needless to say, I know good Mexican food and have had much exposure to not only great authentic food, but some just average food, and occasionally really bad food. Also, being so close to the Pilson and Little Village neighborhoods, I’m usually jaded when it comes to suburbanite Mexican establishments, which usually have ‘Americanized’ versions of the popular Mexican dishes; you know… like chimichangas. Lol
Well first off, this place is entirely staffed by Mexicans, and I mean banda playing Mexicans; not third generation twice removed ‘why isn’t Jarrito spelled with an H, or is it pronounced Jar-​ito?’ Mexican… As a ‘White’ Americanized Puerto Rican, I mean no disrespect. :)
I can’t tell you about the first few meals I’ve had here, but my last meal blew me out of the water! I had the Chilaquiles con Carne Asada, and it was amazing! The chilaquiles were full of flavor and the carne asade had a nice charred flavor to it, while still being soft and moist. I was SO hungry that my eyes where bigger then my stomach (as my girlfriend Cindy) says, that I also ordered an Elote (corn) in a cup and an horchata; I NEVER order horchata! See, it’s SO hard to find a good horchata, that I’ve just had to give them up; same thing with Long Island Iced Teas, but that’s a different story. Also, once you’ve made your own horchata, you learn what to look for and expect; not that mine was that great.
The elote had fresh corn (probably frozen rather then from the can) — I’m still trying to figure out what kind of corn I prefer… processed or cut from the ear. In any case there where generous portions of all the fixings, enough to last to my last spoonful. Only thing missing was the chili powder; but maybe you have to ask for that… I’ll check next time I order one.
The rice is real Mexican rice, not the ‘Spanish’ rice medley most Americanized Mexican restaurants pass off as Mexican rice, and the beans where great; another hard thing to find is great refried beans… Did I mention I was picky about my Mexican food?
Things to note… The portions are pretty big, so if you pace yourself, you can have enough leftovers for lunch. The drinks are self-​serve… Including the horchata and lemonado! You don’t see that too often; I never have! The also have a self-​serve chip and salsa station. The chip salsa is really good, so I recommend piling it on, and grabbing some for your meal.
Also, they have a picture menu for most meal options. The food really does look like the picture! No tricks there. They also have specials on the door when you enter, so be mindful.
All in all, this place has been consistently good and only impresses me more each time I’m there. I have no problems giving them the full five stars. If you don’t like them, then you’ve been conditioned to like Americanized Mexican food. ;p but I hope you agree with me. :D
¡Buen provecho!