Carlos` River Cafe in Crystal Lake

I've been going here for years with friends and we'll continue to go back as we get older. Amazing chimichangas and just great food overall. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food you receive. Carlos is a really nice guy and I will always be happy to support this business. There is a lot of great Mexican food in the area but this place is my favorite.

Absolutely a place worth visiting, the food is awesome and fresh, the cost is fair and it is always well kept in here. Great work.

Everything was served hot and very delicious. Recomend eating here

Had a great experience at Carlos’s today! They were able to put together a catered taco buffet for 25 people with less than 24 hours notice, and of course the food was delicious as always! The lady working there, Rosy, helped get everything out to to car for me and even gave my toddler a bag of free chips. Thanks so much for the wonderful service!

Love the food! Hate all the styrofoam! ☹️

My new favorite Mexican place. The building is very clean and the employees are helpful and kind. I would recommend it to anyone.

The service is constantly swift, good mood, very friendly employees. I will return again when I arrive here.

Food was not good, counter lady had a nasty attitude.,like she was doing you a favor to take the order. Had to go back to counter to get a fork she gave me a spoon.nachos were laden with grease

Very friendly and chips and salsa is top notch.

The atmosphere was quite unique, small room with the menu on the wall above the cashier. If you're looking for a small place to get a quick bite with 2 or 3 people then this is an excellent choice. The service speed was as one would expect from a small cafe (Around 10 minutes, closer to 5) and the Mexican Sunshine was delicious. Not bad at all

My favorite Mexican cuisine.

I’ve been coming to Carlos’s since it opened way back when. The prices were cheap, the food tasty as can be, plentiful, and service was good. The last 2 years, pretty much since 3 went in, the same cannot be said. the amount and quality of the food has fallen off at a faster rate than the rise of the prices. Service is borderline horrendous, clearly does not care. I used to tell people to come here, can’t remember the last time I’ve suggested it to anyone. Luckily the area is filled with other choices.

Is a really good place to eat.,nice people.,great food!!!

Really good Mexican food, great service, nice atmosphere. It's a small place but they do a quality job!

Absolutely Love this place!Best tacos period!

I celebrated my PhD last night in this gorgeous place. Well we enjoyed a tremendous evening and the venue was surely the reason for the successful celebration. The crew cooperated in a graceful manner, the food was extremely good and my buddies were very pleased. We shall no dout return for more joyful events. thanks very much.

Probably the best Mexican food all around. I have been to many places to compare and try new things. Always come back to Carlos River Cafe.

I adore this restaurant very much. there is a nice mood. The meals are marvelous. the service is effective and the crew is well trained. The price is modest. extremely recommend.

Great food, great service. We had the fajita combos. Large enough for two.

Fast service, excellent food, great prices!

Came from out of town visiting from Phoenix, very authentic Mexican food. I was very surprised that Illinois would have this quality of Mexican food in a small town like this and the service was awesome.

I have been coming here for over 20 years and have never been disappointed by service or food portion or price I can not go and eat Mexican food any place else

Food was delicious.. definitely recommend!!

This spot clearly knows how to serve their customers. Always with a super nice mindset. The food is conveniently priced, always tasty and neat.

One of the better burrito joints in McHenry county. Very reasonable prices and friendly people.

The food was good but the service is definitely lacking. The server was rude and very short with us.

We live nearby and this is a regular stop, our favorite for Mexican food. So good that my son had them cater his wedding. A great menu and a friendly crew. If I had to pick a favorite, it might be the steak burrito. We are lucky to have them just down the road.

Very good taco and tamales I will come back for more taco AND tamales think you

Very nice,clean and friendly staff.we will stop in every chance we can.

Wonderful. Authentic. Menu had many choices, some accompanied by photos. Service great, food delicious. We'll be back.

Greatest food west of the Fox River!

This place has excellent food. Very welcoming great place to go to relax and eat.

Food and service are great.

Best Mexican food around. It's a good 40 minutes from my house and I'll drive here everytime. Friendly staff, great prices , Amazing food.

Best Mexican food north of the border! Highly recommend!

Solid Mexican food for a very affordable price. The green salsa is the best, red - not so much. Big burritos and delicious tacos!

Average size burrito, but excellent on the taste! Friendly service. Good homemade chips too. Good sized menu. Clean. Yeah, go there, its worth it!

Excellent food. All fresh and made to order. Friendly service. We loved the place. The food is definitely not like a fast food experience. Delicious.

Last time I went here for a meal they gave me 6 tortilla chips. This time they wouldn't give me any as I only ordered $7 worth of food. I tipped $2 and they were very stingy. They said no chips if you don't spend $8 or $9. I likely will not go back based on this fact. The manager lady was a bit cold and someone rude both times I went in there. they are related to the one in Fox Lake and that one is 100% better.

They don’t like to answer the phone snd take orders after 7. They want to be cleaned up and waiting to run out the door at 9. My last 3 take orders have not been incorrect. Carlos if your not going to manage it anymore you should get someone who will.

I admire this place! They prepare tasty food, their menu is large, The chief cook in that place is well trained, I enjoy very much tasting all their food. The food is always fresh, the service towards the clients is nice. I visit often this restaurant and I not even once was disappointed. I recommend it to all.

We enjoy going out. Yesterday we found this superb place which friends recommended to us. We passed a delightful evening there with superb meal and a nice team and a talented cook. We put this restaurant in our list and we shall definitely go again very soon. We warmly recommend.

Great food good service but the rice is not very flavorful.

The best Mexican food in McHenry county or anywhere near hands down. THE BEST!

Nice dining room. Grilled to order. Very good.

Been going here since he opened this one and it's always been great except for today. The waitress was a little short with us, she took our tortilla chips and salsa before we were even done with them and the tacos were really short on meat. A spoonful of meat is a lot less than usual. I know Carlos has been busy with his two new restaurant's in Crystal Lake but he might need to monitor the original a little more.

Food was excellent. Salsa Verde was excellent. Ordered a side of roasted jelopenos 4 and they changed 1dollar a peace for them we won't order them again to expensive

Great food great service

Sadly one of the worst experiences we have had at a Mexican restaurant or any restaurant. The server was short and unfriendly. The food was terrible with the beef tasting like the smell of a wet dog. Definitely will never return. We love Mexican food and have eaten at over 100 different places, but this was truly the worst experience.

Some of the best Mexican around. Very reasonable pricing aswell. Couldn't recommend enough.