If it`s been a while since you`ve had a taste of genuine Mexican fare served by smiling Mexican waiters, consider heading for the border. The border of East and West Dundee, that is.
There you`ll find Cha Cha Cha Mexican Cafe, a 100-seat restaurant serving up an authentic menu with an atmosphere to match. Items range from hearty botanas (appetizers) to antojitos Mexicanos (lighter, typically Mexican fare) like chiles rellenos ($7.45), flautas ($7.45) and enchiladas done up with ranchera, mole or suiza-type sauce ($6.95 each).
All the ingredients are hand picked and fresh from the market, according to owner Johnny Granados. ”I buy everything-seafood, poultry, meat and vegetables, myself,” he said.
Granados got his start in the restaurant business by working as a dishwasher at McCormick Place and the Palmer House. He worked his way up into management in various Chicago restaurants before opening his own place four years ago. After traveling to Mexico City several times a year, Granados has accumulated enough items to decorate his restaurant with ”a little bit of everything.”
But it`s the myriad of Mexican scents and flavors that makes dining at Cha Cha Cha a culinary adventure. Steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas ($9.95 to $10.95) washed down with an original margarita is the house favorite, but Granados also offers mouth-watering Mexican dishes like bistek a la Mexicana
(steak with onions, peppers and tomatoes, $10.45); huachinango al mojo de ajo (fresh red snapper simmered in orange and lemon juice, garlic and herbs, market price) and pollo ranchero (boneless chicken breast sauteed with bell peppers, onions, zucchini and spices on a bed of rice, $9.95).
While most of the menu items are not spicy, Granados said if it`s spicy you`re after, they`ll be happy to accommodate.
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Cha Cha Cha Mexican Cafe, 16 E. Main St., East Dundee. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Reservations strongly suggested Friday and Saturday. Call 428-4774.
