What to Eat

What to Eat at Cantina Laredo, Now Open in River North

Cantina Laredo
Cantina Laredo Photo: Nick Kindelsperger

Another day, another new national chain is ready to break into Chicago’s downtown dining scene. Now open is Cantina Laredo, a Mexican restaurant with locations all across the country, the UK, and even in the United Arab Emirates — hey, everyone needs some guacamole now and then. Housed in a gorgeous new building at the corner of State and Illinois, it is located just across the street from Sable and two blocks east of a certain Mexican restaurant empire. We stopped by yesterday to see what you should expect.

Cantina Laredo claims to serve “modern Mexican cuisine,” and features the cooking of executive chef Larry Sinclair. He’s coming from the chain’s Nashville location, though he also did a seven year stint at PF Chang’s as a culinary partner, which is apparently a code name for executive chef. General manager Rithea Som will be in charge of dealing with the 250 (!) or so employees.

Like the space and the staff, the menu is huge, featuring a range of classic Mexican dishes. There is, obviously, that guacamole, along with a range of tacos, tortas, tamales, fajitas, and enchiladas. We’ll have to wait to see what the speciality of the house turns out to be, but you can check the full menu out below.

Cantina Laredo’s two floors feature a bar, main dining room, and two private dining rooms. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Cantina Laredo, 508 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654; 312-955-0014

Aperitivos, Sopas y Ensaladas

TOP SHELF GUACAMOLE made fresh at your table, serves two to four 9.99

QUESADILLAS AL CARBON Chicken fajita or beef fajita 13.29

NACHOS AL CARBON Chicken fajita or beef fajita 13.29

CHILI CON QUESO Bowl 7.99

CEVICHE Shrimp, scallops and fish marinated in lime juice 8.99

ENSALADA DE CILANTRO Y POLLO Fajitia chicken with black beans, red pepper, Monterey Jack cheese and avocado with cilantro-lime dressing 11.49

ENSALADA DE MANGO Y POLLO Chicken and mango with jicama, seasoned pumpkin seeds, grapes, mint and queso fresco with a honey vinaigrette 12.99

ENSALADA DE CAMARON CON MIEL Grilled shrimp, jicama, mangos, roasted walnuts and goat cheese crumbles with tropical honey vinaigrette 13.99

SOPA DE TORTILLA bowl 9.29

SOPA DE POZOLE Chicken and hominy in a poblano broth 9.49

Especialidades

CARNITAS Braised pork shanks with chipotle-wine sauce 20.49

CARNE ASADA Grilled steak with marinated onions and chimichurri sauce 18.99

TACOS AL CARBON Three chicken or beef tacos and queso 17.49

FILLET PORTABELLA 7 oz. Certified Angus Beef filet mignon with portabella mushroom sauce 25.99

FIESTA DE LA PARRILLA Shrimp, quail, carnitas, beef and chicken fajitas 25.99

FAJITAS Chicken 13.49, Beef 14.99, Combination 14.49

CAMARON POBLANO ASADA Grilled steak around poblano pepper with shrimp, mushrooms, onions and Monterey Jack cheese, on chimichurri sauce 22.29

TAMALES DE BARBACOA Homemade tamales filled with slow-roasted brisket, artichokes, sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers and queso fresco 18.99

CHILE RELLENO Poblano pepper with Picadillo filling with beef, almonds and raisins topped with ranchera sauce 14. 29

CODORNIZ CON CIRUELA Two quail with apple-pecan stuffing topped with plum sauce 25.99

CAMARONES ESCONDIDOS Grilled chicken breast stuffed with shrimp, topped with sautéed spinach and chipotle-wine sauce 18.99

TAMPICO Grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed artichoke hearts, mushrooms, spinach, red bell peppers with sour cream-poblano sauce and Monterey Jack cheese 15.99

PESCADO DEL DIA Ask your server for today’s selection 23.29

Enchiladas y Tacos

ENCHILADA DE MOLE Sweet, spicy blend of dried Mexican peppers creates a sauce over a chicken enchilada 13.49

ENCHILADA DE BARBACOA Slow-roasted brisket and Monterey Jack cheese enchilada topped with ranchera sauce 13.99

ENCHILADA VERACRUZ Chicken, spinach and Monterey Jack enchilada topped with tomatillo sauce, marinated vegetables, and queso fresco 13.29

ENCHILADA DE AVOCADO Avocado and artichoke enchilada topped with tomatillo sauce on bed of spinach 12.29

ENCHILADA DE OAXACA Oaxaca cheese enchilada topped with tomatillo sauce 11.99

ENCHILADAS DE CAMARONES Shrimp, Monterey Jack cheese and roasted peppers in enchilada on vegetables topped with sour cream poblano sauce 16.99

TACOS DE FAJITA Beef with queso fresco, avocado and sour cream drizzle 12.29

TACOS DE BARBACOA Slow-roasted brisket with marinated onions, queso fresco, and cilantro 13.79

TACOS DE CARNITAS Slow-roasted pork with chipotle wine sauce 12.49

TACOS DE POLLO Fajita chicken with avocado, pico de gallo, queso fresco and poblano drizzle 11.99

TACOS DE CAMARONES Shrimp and marinated vegetables, queso fresco and guajillo salsa 13.79

TACOS DE PESCADO Mahi Mahi, marinated vegetables, queso fresco and chipotle aioli 13.99

Tortas
Available at Lunch and Brunch

TORTA AHOGADAS DE BARBACOA Griddle baked sandwich with slow-roasted brisket, guacamole, black beans, and lettuce in smoky guajillo sauce 13.99

TORTA AHOGADAS DE POLLO Griddle baked sandwich with guajillo seasoned chicken breast, guacamole, black beans, and red peppers in guajillo sauce 10.99

TORTA AHOGADAS DE CARNITAS Griddle baked sandwich with slow-roasted pork, guacamole and black beans in smoky guajillo sauce 11.99

Brunch y Especialidades
Brunch entrees include a Mimosa, Bloody Maria or non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
Served Sundays. Full Brunch menu available upon request.

CRAB CAKES BENEDICT Poached eggs on crab cakes topped with chipotle-wine hollandaise sauce 13.99

MIGAS CON HUEVOS Scrambled eggs with jalapeños, bacon and sautéed tortillas 10.29

ASADA HUEVOS Grilled steak with marinated onions and chimichurri sauce. Served with two eggs 12.99

POLLO CHIPOTLE Grilled chicken breast topped with chipotle-wine sauce and melted Monterey Jack cheese 12.49

HUEVOS RANCHEROS Traditional egg dish topped with ranchera sauce 9.99

CHICKEN FAJITA OMELET Fajita chicken, peppers, onions and cheese with poblano sauce 10.99

SPINACH & ARTICHOKE OMELET Artichoke hearts, spinach, peppers, mushrooms and cheese with poblano sauce 10.29

PESCADO DEL DIA Featuring a special fresh fish each day, ask your server 13.49

CHILE RELLENO Poblano pepper with Picadillo filling with beef, almonds and raisins topped with ranchera sauce 14.29

Postres

MEXICAN APPLE PIE Sizzled in Mexican Brandy Butter and topped with your choice of cinnamon or vanilla ice cream 6.79

MEXICAN BROWNIE with pecans and walnuts on a sizzling skillet with Mexican Brandy Butter and vanilla or cinnamon ice cream 6.79

FLAN Mexican custard with caramel sauce and a hint of Cointreau 5.99

CHURROS with chocolate raspberry sauce and Grand Mariner cajeta 6.99

MANGO TRES LECHES Creamy vanilla cake with mango cream sauce 7.29


Lounge Menu

Platillos

TOP SHELF GUACAMOLE made fresh at your table, serves two to four 10

QUESADILLAS AL CARBON Chicken fajita or beef fajita 10

QUESO FUNDIDO Oaxaca cheese melted with roasted peppers and chorizo 9

CEVICHE VERACRUZANO Shrimp, scallops and fish marinated in lime juice 10

CEVICHE TROPICAL Ahi tuna with mango, jicama and watermelon 10

TACOS DE AHI TUNA Mini-crispy tacos with ahi tuna, chipotle aioli, jicama slaw and guacamole 9

CRAB CAKES Y POBLANO Three lump crab cakes with poblano buerre blanc sauce 11

SOPES DE CHORIZO Masa cakes topped with chorizo, queso fresco and black beans with tomatillo salsa 9

EMPANADAS DE POLLO Empanadas filled with chicken, roasted poblano peppers and Oaxaca cheese 10

TOSTADITAS DE AGUACATE topped with black beans, avocado, queso fresco, tomatoes and lettuce 8

FLATBREAD DE CAMARONES CHIPOTLE Sautéed shrimp with goat cheese, pineapple, roasted peppers and chipotle sauce 11

Taqueria

BARBACOA Slow-roasted brisket with marinated onions, Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro 13

CARNITAS Slow-roasted pork with chipotle wine sauce 11

POLLO CASCABEL Spicy chicken with marinated onions and queso fresco 11

PESCADO Mahi Mahi with marinated vegetables, queso fresco and chipotle aioli 13

CAMARONES Shrimp with marinated vegetables, queso fresco and guajillo aioli 13

Postres

FLAN Mexican custard with caramel sauce and a hint of Cointreau 6

CHURROS with chocolate raspberry sauce and Grand Mariner cajeta to dip 7

MANGO TRES LECHES Creamy vanilla cake with mango cream sauce 7
What to Eat at Cantina Laredo, Now Open in River North