Restaurant

Momento Cantina

Name: Momento Cantina
Address: 36 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL, 60603, US
Telephone: (312) 363-3136
Price range: value

Mexican•Chicago•value

Momento Cantina is one of the best mexican restaurants in Chicago for cheap eats, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Momento Cantina is not auditioning for the tasting-menu circuit, and that's precisely the point.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Momento Cantina is not auditioning for the tasting-menu circuit, and that's precisely the point. At a dollar-sign-one price level in Chicago, it has apparently built a following by committing to Mexican cooking that prioritizes substance over ceremony — the kind of room, by all accounts, where drinks get ordered before anyone sits down and plates move around the table without anyone asking permission. That clarity of purpose is harder to maintain than it looks, and Momento seems to have figured it out. The menu is where the reputation lives. The Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa are consistently cited as a reason to show up — slow-braised pork in a format where the salsa reportedly functions as a structural element, not an afterthought. The Pulpo Macha is the dish that comes up most often when regulars make a case for the kitchen: octopus in a salsa macha built around toasted chile heat, the kind of preparation that tends to convert skeptics. The Mar y Tierra Molcajete is the table centerpiece — served in volcanic stone that keeps everything at temperature — and by most accounts it's the move for groups. The Cochinita Pibil, achiote-slow-roasted pork done in the Yucatecan tradition, is what makes the price point feel almost unfair according to diners who return for it specifically. And the Signature Abuelita Cake closes things out on a note that reads as genuinely nostalgic rather than calculated — reportedly the kind of dessert that reminds you why dessert exists. Practical reality: weeknights are reportedly better for conversation, weekends lean toward a full scene. The kitchen appears to reward the table that orders broadly and shares without a strategy session. Come hungry, come with people, and let the Cochinita Pibil make the case for itself.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap EatsTacoscasual night lunch colorfulbusy

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.5/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

1,193 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.5/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 1,193 reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats and Tacos

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Chicago | 36 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.5/10

Phone

(312) 363-3136

Watch

Momento Cantina on video

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Menu and ordering

Momento Cantina menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Momento Cantina is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa

Fried masa filled w/ pork & bathed in salsa tatemada

Pulpo Macha

Charred octopus glazed with spicy, nutty salsa macha

Mar y Tierra Molcajete

Ribeye steak, octopus, chicken & melted cheese in a sizzling volcanic molcajete

Cochinita Pibil

Yucatán-Style slow-roasted pork w/ achiote and citrus

Signature Abuelita Cake

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Momento Cantina worth the move

Momento Cantina is a strong mexican option in Chicago when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Guacamole w/ Totopos and Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,193 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 1,193 Google reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats and Tacos

Style

Mexican in Chicago

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats Tacos casual night lunch colorful busy

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 1,193 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Guacamole w/ Totopos, Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa, Pulpo Macha

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Momento Cantina

Be the first TastyPals diner to reviewFirst-hand reviews are moderated before appearing publicly.

Google snapshot

9.4 from 1,193 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Momento Cantina yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 36 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
Phone: (312) 363-3136
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.5/10
Google rating: 9.4 (1,193 reviews)
Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood: Chicago

Read guide

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Momento Cantina serve?

Momento Cantina is a Mexican restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Momento Cantina is not auditioning for the tasting-menu circuit, and that's precisely the point.

What is Momento Cantina best for?

Momento Cantina is best for cheap eats, tacos, casual night, lunch, colorful, busy. Momento Cantina is a strong mexican option in Chicago when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Guacamole w/ Totopos and Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,193 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Momento Cantina?

Momento Cantina is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.4 from 1,193 reviews

What should I order at Momento Cantina?

Start with Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa, Pulpo Macha, Mar y Tierra Molcajete and Cochinita Pibil. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Momento Cantina worth visiting?

Momento Cantina holds a 9.4 Google rating from 1,193 reviews. Momento Cantina is a strong mexican option in Chicago when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Guacamole w/ Totopos and Carnitas Gorditas in Salsa also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,193 Google reviews.

Where is Momento Cantina located?

Momento Cantina is located at 36 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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