La Cantina Bar & Grill serves authentic Mexican cuisine using traditional techniques and the freshest ingredients.
In addition to our dining menu full of Mexican favorites from Nacho Platters to Lomo en Salsa de Arbol, we are proud to offer a full VEGAN menu with vegan proteins, cheeses, sour cream and other vegan ingredients.
Our bar is packed full of Chicago’s widest range of tequila and mezcal choices. Fresh, delicious margaritas and cocktails are crafted to be both unique and accessible. We carry a large selection of domestic, craft and Mexican beers and are also known for having Chicago’s best Sangria.
We are located south of Millennium Park, west of Soldier Field and very near McCormick Place in Chicago’s fast growing South Loop neighborhood. We are also proud to serve the Columbia College community of students and faculty and offer a special Student/Lunch Menu Monday – Friday. Check out CATERING menus for your next private event or party.
La Cantina Menu
*prices and items subject to change*
Botanas/Appetizers
- CEVICHE CANTINA14.95
tilapia fillet marinated in lime juice, garlic, ginger, cilantro, hot pepper, onion, corn & spices
add jumbo shrimp 6 - MEXICAN CEVICHE14.95
tilapia, carrots, red onions, cilantro, and habanero peppers marinated in lime juice (no substitutions or changes please)
add jumbo shrimp 6 - COCTEL DE CAMARONES18.95
shrimp cocktail in tomato sauce with diced onions, cilantro, avocado, lime juice & a hint of jalapeño
- MINI QUESADILLAS8.95
two quesadillas cut into 8 pieces
add chicken or steak 3 - QUESO FUNDIDO9.95
melted chihuahua cheese served with your choice of our salsa verde or roja. served with tortillas
add chorizo, grilled onions or poblano peppers 1
- MINI-CHIMICHANGAS10.95
four mini-burritos stuffed with rice, beans, cheese and choice of steak or chicken & topped with sour cream, guacamole
add steak 1 - GUACAMOLE8.95
our mouth watering guacamole made with only the freshest ingredients
- MAYAN TAMALES8.95
choice of 2 handmade pork or chicken filled tamales
- SOPES8.95
two fried masa cups with bean spread, topped with choice of meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese & sour cream
- FLAMING QUESO PANELA11.95
panela cheese in olive oil, garlic, oregano & thyme, served in our ranchera sauce
- FRIED OR GRILLED SHRIMP18.95
jumbo butterflied shrimp breaded & deep fried or grilled. served with cocktail sauce
Ensaladas/Salads
ADD: grilled chicken or ground beef 3 | tilapia 5 | shrimp 8 | steak 12
DRESSINGS: balsamic vinaigrette, creamy caesar, french, classic italian, creamy ranch
- GARDEN SALAD9.95
romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, green & red bell peppers, cheese & garnished with fried tortilla strips & avocado
- SPINACH SALAD10.95
fresh spinach with hearts of romaine, vine ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, white onions & carrots with your choice of dressing
- CHIPOTLE CHICKEN SALAD13.95
romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onions, cheese, cucumbers with our homemade creamy chipotle ranch dressing. topped with a grilled chipotle-marinated chicken breast
- CAESAR SALAD9.95
hearts of romaine, croutons and caesar dressing
- TACO SALAD11.95
lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, cheese, rice, beans & sour cream, served in a homemade tortilla bowl
- VILLAGE SALAD11.95
green & red peppers, onions, cucumbers, avocado, tomatoes, panela cheese drizzled with olive oil
SOUPS
CUP or BOWL
TORTILLA 4.95 7.95 | CHICKEN 3.95 6.95 | SHRIMP cup only 5.95
TILAPIA cup only 4.95 | POZOLE VERDE 4.95 7.95
Comida Tradicionales Mexcianas
- ENCHILADAS13.95
Four rolled corn tortillas stuffed with chicken & topped with cheese, sour cream, and your choice of sauce. served with rice, beans, pico de gallo
- MAYAN TAMALES11.95
Two tamales filled with choice of tender pork or chicken wrapped in corn husks topped with salsa roja or salsa verde and sour cream. with rice, beans & pico de gallo
- CHILE RELLENOS14.95
Two mild pablano peppers stuffed with chihuahua cheese & topped with salsa roja & sour cream. served with rice, beans & pico de gallo
- SOUP - CALDO DE POLLO9.95
homemade chicken soup served with rice, cilantro, onion, lime, and tortillas upon request
- CHIMICHANGA12.95
burrito stuffed with cheese and your choice of meat deep-fried & topped with sour cream, guacamole, and served with pico de gallo sub shrimp 6 steak add 2
- FLAUTAS12.95
Four crispy flautas filled with juicy pulled chicken topped with cheese and sour cream. served with rice, beans & pico de gallo
- STUFFED QUESADILLA13.95
quesadilla stuffed with lettuce, tomato, sour cream & guacamole. served with rice & beans & your choice of meat for an additional charge. ADD steak or steak tinga 6 | chicken, chicken tinga, pork, al pastor, or ground beef 3 | shrimp 6 | tilapia 4
- SOPES12.95
Two fried masa cups filled with bean spread, lettuce, tomato, cheese & sour cream & choice of meat. served with rice & beans ADD steak 2
- TORTA11.95
Mexican-style sandwich with choice of chicken, ground beef, pork, or al pastor topped with lettuce, tomato, beans, cheese, guacamole & sour cream on butter toasted mexican bread SUB: steak 2 or steak milanesa 2
- ALAMBRES15.95
grilled chicken sautéed with bacon, onions, green peppers, & mushrooms. Topped with cheese & avocado. served with your choice of tortillas SUB: steak 2
Quesadillas
flour tortillas filled with melted chihuahua cheese. served with beans & rice.
- CHEESE11.95
- CHICKEN12.95
- STEAK13.95
- PORK12.95
- GROUND BEEF12.95
- TILAPIA15.95
- TILAPIA & SHRIMP19.95
- SHRIMP18.95
- VEGETARIAN GRILLED14.95
- CHORIZO12.95
- STEAK TINGA14.95
- POBLANO PEPPERS12.95
- MUSHROOMS12.95
- GRILLED JALAPEÑO12.95
Burritos
a large tortilla packed with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, & sour cream. served with beans & rice. suizo (melted cheese & red sauce on top add 3)
- CHICKEN11.95
- STEAK14.95
- PORK11.95
- GROUND BEEF11.95
- TILAPIA14.95
- TILAPIA & SHRIMP17.95
- SHRIMP17.95
- VEGETARIAN GRILLED12.95
- CHORIZO11.95
- CHICKEN TINGA11.95
- STEAK TINGA14.95
- CHICKEN & MOLE13.95
Tacos La Cantina
served with choice of cilantro, onions, lettuce, tomato & cheese. served with beans & rice.
- CHICKEN11.95
- PORK CARNITAS11.95
- GROUND BEEF11.95
- STEAK13.95
- AL PASTOR11.95
- CHICKEN TINGA11.95
- STEAK TINGA13.95
- CHORIZO11.95
- EGG & CHORIZO11.95
- BEER-BATTERED TILAPIA13.95
- VEGETARIAN11.95
SERVED IN ITS OWN SAUCE:
- TILAPIA & SHRIMP ROJA18.95
- TILAPIA SALSA ROJA13.95
- SHRIMP SALSA ROJA16.95
- CHICKEN MOLE SAUCE11.95
Fajita Grill
grilled with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, & zucchini & served with your choice of warm corn or flour tortillas. comes with rice, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
- CHICKEN16.95
- PORK14.95
- STEAK23.95
- SHRIMP22.95
- STEAK & SHRIMP27.95
- CHICKEN & SHRIMP23.95
- TILAPIA & SHRIMP26.95
- VEGETARIAN14.95includes mushrooms
Especialidades de la Casa
Served with rice and beans
Meat & Chicken
- ZAMORA
char-grilled chicken or steak topped with charro beans & served with cactus salad
18.95 Chicken | $28.95 steak
- BISTEC O POLLO A LA TAMPIQUEÑA
marinated steak or chicken breast char-grilled to perfection. served with a cheese enchilada, guacamole & sour cream
Chicken $18.95 | Steak $26.95
- BISTEC A LA MEXICANA22.95
sauteéd skirt steak strips, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, salsa roja, jalapeños & cilantro
- LOMO A LA CANTINA
steak or chicken with onions, tomato, cilantro with fried potatoes in our mild salsa roja
14.95 chicken 22.95 steak
- LOMO EN SALSA DE ARBOL
steak or chicken simmered in a spicy chile de arbol sauce with tomatillo
14.95 chicken 22.95 steak
- POLLO EN SALSA VERDE16.95
tender slices of chicken breast simmered in spicy salsa verde with zucchini and onions
- PUERCO EN SALSA VERDE15.95
tender carnitas simmered in our spicy salsa verde with zucchini and onions
- POLLO MICHOACANO17.95
(POLLO EN MOLE) tender whole pieces of chicken simmered in our delicious mole sauce
- POLLO EN SALSA CHIPOTLE15.95
chipotle grilled chicken breast sautéed with onions & tomatoes in our chipotle salsa
- PECHUGA REYENA16.95
chicken breast stuffed with chihuahua cheese, spinach, onions, bacon, & garlic, covered in our salsa poblano allow 35 minutes
Pescado/Seafood
- CAMARONES AL MOJO DE AJO21.95
jumbo shrimp cooked just right & basted with a fresh garlic butter sauce featuring cilantro, onions & fresh tomatoes
- TINGA DE CAMARONES21.95
grilled shrimp with tomatoes, onions, & chipotle pepper sauce
- TILAPIA A LA DIABLA16.95
tilapia fillet simmered in our spicy guerrero sauce
- TILAPIA AL MOJO DE AJO16.95
tilapia cooked just right & basted with a fresh garlic butter sauce featuring cilantro, green onions & fresh tomatoes
- FILETE DE PESCADO15.95
fresh tilapia breaded & fried or unbreaded & broiled
- FRIED SHRIMP21.95
jumbo butterflied shrimp breaded & fried. served with french fries. (does not include rice, beans, & pico de gallo)
- CAMARONES A LA DIABLA21.95
jumbo butterflied shrimp in our spicy guerrero sauce
- TILAPIA AL MOJO DE AJO CON DIABLA16.95
tilapia cooked just right & basted with a fresh garlic butter sauce featuring cilantro, green onions & fresh tomatoes combined with diabla guerrero sauce add shrimp 6
- CAMARONES AL MOJO DE AJO CON DIABLA21.95
jumbo shrimp cooked just right & basted with a fresh garlic butter sauce featuring cilantro, green onions & fresh tomatoes with diabla guerrero sauce
Combinations
Served with rice and beans
- FLAUTAS Y ENCHILADAS16.95three crispy chicken flautas & two chicken enchiladas with your choice of our famous mole sauce or our tasty salsa verde or roja.
- PARRILLADA MIXTA70.95
mixed grilled steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, chorizo, tilapia, green onions, cactus, grilled jalapeños, panela cheese. served with rice, beans, guacamole, pico de gallo & choice of tortillas (SERVES 2-4)
- EL GORDO19.95
two steak, chicken or pork tacos, two chicken enchiladas & two chicken tostadas
Nacho Platters
made with chihuahua cheese, beans, jalapeños, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa ranchera & sour cream topped with your choice of:
CHEESE 12.95 | CHICKEN 13.95 | STEAK 14.95 | PORK 13.95 | GROUND BEEF 13.95 | GRILLED VEGGIES 13.95 | SHRIMP 18.95
SIDES
TACO 3.45 | SHRIMP TACO 4.95 | TILAPIA TACO 4.95 | STEAK TACO 3.95 | TOSTADA 3.75 | ENCHILADA 3.45 | TAMALE 4.45 | RICE 2.95 | BEANS 2.95 | FRIES 3.45 | CHEESE 1.50 | MOLE SAUCE 1.50 | SOUR CREAM 1.50 | GUACAMOLE 1.50 | PICO DE GALLO with chips 4.45 | CACTUS SALAD 3.45
Student & Lunch Menu
Available 11:00AM-1:30PM Monday- Friday. Available ALWAYS with valid & current student ID.
Served with rice and beans Add $1.50 for steak option. Shrimp $4. Tilapia $2.
- TACOS9.95
two tacos packed with your choice of meat, lettuce, tomato & cheese on a corn or flour tortilla.
- BURRITO9.95
your choice of meat loaded with beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, & sour cream.
- CHIMICHANGA9.95
fried burrito with choice of meat topped with sour cream, cheese, and guacamole
- QUESADILLAS9.95
choice of meat grilled with cheese on a flour tortilla
- FLAUTAS9.95
flute-shaped taco filled with shredded chicken & fried. garnished with lettuce, sour cream, & cheese.
- TORTA9.95
choice of meat with beans, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, sour cream & cheese.
- ENCHILADAS9.95
three rolled up corn tortillas filled with choice of meat or cheese topped with cheese, sour cream and your choice of salsa.
Vegan Menu
We use Upton’s seitan chorizo and ground beef, Good Planet vegan mozzarella cheese, Tofutti vegan sour cream, and Bulkfoods.com vegan chicken base.
- MINI-QUESADILLAS
served with pico de gallo & sour cream
Cheese 11.95
Chorizo 13.95
Ground Beef 13.95
Grilled Veggie 13.95
- GUACAMOLE8.95
with chips
- PICO DE GALLO4.95
with chips
- MINI-CHIMICHANGAS
served with pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream & cheese. Stuffed with cheese, rice & beans
Grilled Veggie 11.95
Chorizo 13.95
Ground Beef 13.95
- QUESADILLAS
served with rice & beans. all quesadillas available stuffed with guacamole, vegan sour cream, lettuce, & tomato for additional 3
Cheese 13.95
Grilled Veggie 14.95
Ground Beef 15.95
Chorizo 15.95
Poblano 13.95
- BURRITOS
stuffed with vegan sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce, beans & cheese & served with rice and beans
Grilled Veggie 12.95
Bean and Cheese 13.95
Chorizo 14.95
Ground Beef 14.95
All burritos available Suizo for an additional 4
- TACOS
three tacos topped with lettuce, tomatoes & cheese & served with rice & beans
Chorizo 13.95
Grilled Veggie 11.95
Ground Beef 13.95
- CHIMICHANGAS
stuffed with cheese, topped with guacamole, sour cream & cheese & served with rice and beans
Chorizo 13.95
Grilled Veggie 12.95
Ground Beef 13.95
- TORTAS
stuffed with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, vegan sour cream, cheese & guacamole & served with rice & beans.
Chorizo 13.95
Grilled Veggie 11.95
Ground Beef 13.95
- CHILES RELLENOS15.95
served with rice & beans and topped with salsa ranchera & sour cream.
- ENCHILADAS
topped with choice of salsa roja, salsa verde or mole sauce, cheese & sour cream. Served with rice & beans.
Cheese 13.95
Chorizo 14.95
Grilled Veggie 13.95
Ground Beef 14.95
- NACHOS
topped with salsa ranchera, refried beans lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream & jalapeños en vinagre.
Cheese 13.95
Chorizo 14.95
Grilled Veggie 13.95
Ground Beef 14.95
- Taco Salad11.95
lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, cheese, rice, beans & sour cream, served in a homemade tortilla bowl
- Spinach Salad10.95
fresh spinach with hearts of romaine, vine ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, white onions & carrots
- SIDE DISHES
Pico de Gallo 1.50
Guacamole 1.50
Rice 2.95
Beans 2.95