Estrella Negra
Estrella Negra — among the best mexican in Bucktown. Order the chicken flautas. The atmosphere does most of the heavy lifting, and good for vegetarians. "The pozole was the perfect amount of spicy and a must try" — C. G. [$$]
What 687 diners keep saying
What 687 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“We love supporting small businesses, and this restaurant absolutely exceeded our expectations. We came here to watch the World Cup and everything from the friendly service to the incredible food made this a memorable experience. The menu is creative, the ingredients tasted fresh, and you can tell there’s real passion behind every dish. The margarita was one of the best I’ve had—refreshing, flavorful, and the perfect start to the meal. It’s so refreshing to find a local spot that puts this much care into both the food and the customer experience. We can’t wait to come back and work our way through the rest of the menu. This place deserves all the support it can get! The owner Otoniel and server/ bartenders Alby and Autry made our experience excellent!”

“Fantastic experience. The flavors! Unlike every other run-of-the-mill Mexican place. Loved it”

“i am furious that i’ve lived in the area for almost a year and i just now wandered into this fantastic restaurant. highly recommend. homemade chips, phenomenal homemade salsas, margaritas with freshly squeezed juice, very friendly service. the bean dip is also very good. food is very high quality. we enjoyed our weeknight evening, and i am surprised it wasn’t more busy! maybe we were just lucky with a lull. absolutely will be back soon.”

“The service is consistently outstanding, and the food is authentic, delicious, and made with incredibly fresh ingredients. The meat quality is truly top-notch, and the portions are perfect. The drinks are the cherry on top. Our family of four loves dining here, and it’s also become a favorite spot for spontaneous date nights for my husband and me. Highly recommend!”

“If I could give this place more than five stars, I would! Everything here is a hit. The guacamole is incredibly fresh, the margaritas are spot on, and honestly the entire menu delivers. We tried the Poblano Surf N Turf burger and the goat cheese quesadilla too both were delicious, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. And whatever you do, don’t skip dessert. Every single one we ordered was amazing, so just do yourself a favor and get them all. This is officially one of my favorite spots. Highly recommend! 🌮🍔🍰🍹”

“My experience here was great! The staff was very welcoming and accommodating for my birthday dinner. They placed a candle in the concha ice cream sandwich for me to celebrate, which was appreciated. I recommend the chicken flautas, loaded steak fries, and ginger tea. Everything we ordered was very yummy. I will say for a large party, the seating at the high tops is not the most comfortable, so I recommend groups of 2-6 here. Otherwise this is a lovely spot for dinner or drinks. Also note that the portions are not huge, you’ll definitely be full from an entree but don’t expect leftovers. the prices are a bit high for the portion size, but the quality of the food is great.”

“We loved it here! Food was incredible and service was great”

“Wonderful experience. The server was amazing and attentive. Food was good, service and atmosphere a plus. Will definitely return again.”

“Great goat cheese quesadillas & we played Loteria, fun! Only issue is parking @Estrella thank you for the response, wasn't aware of free parking. Street that day was really busy. Possibly state that info on events.”

“I went here for Cinco de Mayo and unfortunately did not make a reservation but they still sat me at a table! I’m appreciative of their long list of Mocktails and tried the Nojito (Mojito without alcohol) and it was great! The burrito meal with chicken was good and the side salad had a good vinaigrette dressing. They were so busy though and I accidentally got charged for alcoholic drinks I did not order, but we took some time and figured it out and I will be reimbursed. It’s a small space so it gets super loud in there, but the bright colors are fun!”

“I’ve been coming to Estrella Negra for years, but the quality has gone downhill. I paid $18 for a steak burrito, and all the steak in half the burrito was just three tiny chunks (photo attached). The rest was filler. For the price, that’s unacceptable. I’ve always loved the vibe here, but I can’t justify coming back anymore.”
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