east side of chicago

[k]

does anyone know of a restaurant called mexican inn? if so, what do you suggest? thank you

[Rene G]

Ah, Mexican Inn, I hadn’t thought about that place in quite some time. I used to go with a friend, an East Side native, and had some fun meals. I made one return visit almost exactly three years ago and was not surprised to find out it didn’t live up to my memories.

Mexican Inn is in a nice old triangular building at the intersection of Routes 12/20, Route 41 and 95th Street. It’s been in business, owned by the same family at the same location, since 1961 which I suppose makes it among the oldest Mexican restaurants in Chicago. The interior is modest but homey and clean, with booths along the walls and tables in the center. I remember service as always being friendly.

The menu holds few surprises: enchiladas, tamales, tostadas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, sopes, and some combination plates. There is a single special each day: caldo de pollo (Tue), puerco en chile verde (Wed), pollo en mole (Thu), milanesa (Fri), and pozole (Sat & Sun). Everything I’ve had has been fresh and competently prepared but rather ‘dumbed down.’ For example, the tacos come garnished with iceberg lettuce and diced tomato. I distinctly remember they used to serve brain tacos (crispy shell only, never available in soft!) but those are no longer offered. They serve a homemade salsa that’s very thick and smooth, heavy on tomato but light on chile.

It’s not the sort of place I’d say to avoid at any cost but it’s not likely to be worth a trip across the city. There are probably hundreds of other Chicago restaurants that do the same dishes much better.

Speaking of the old East Side places, does anyone remember Sonny’s? Now THOSE were burgers…

Mexican Inn
9510 S Ewing Av (3600 E)
Chicago
773-734-8957
Tue-Sun 11am-10pm (call to be sure)

[k]

rene, thank you very much for all the information. its been many years since i have been there, and i was wondering if it's still as good as i remember or i was so young, my taste buds didn't know better. sonny's did have great burgers, sonny had a farm and thats where the meat came from. i can't remember what the cost was, but i'm sure it was very cheap. i grew up on the east side and miss all the local little places and wondering if there still around.

[Rene G]

Wow, I had no idea I was eating Sonny’s own cows! Sure tasted good though. All I ever had there were burgers and beer but I think they served other food as well. Sonny’s had been in business since the 1940s and was only open weekdays from early morning to early evening.

Some time after Sonny Grzetich closed the place it was reopened by Neil Bosanko (in the 1990s) but it was still called Sonny’s. He made a number of changes such as eliminating the bar and renaming the burger Neil’s Gutbuster. It was good but nowhere near the original. I think now Sonny’s is closed again, done in partly by the moving of the once-nearby IC (now Metra) station.

As far as other places around there, Calumet Fisheries on 95th is still around and still good. Golden Shell is closed. Import Tap on Ewing is still going but I think I remember seeing a For Sale sign on it. Polka Sausage on Commercial is one of the few remaining old businesses left on that street. If you haven’t seen it, you might be interested in something I posted here on South Commercial (link below). It just goes to show that, even though we lost a lot of good old places, not all change is for the worse.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[swampdog]

the owners of the golden shell have opened a bar in hammond indiana on kennedy ave and serve some of the same food.

[Efedora]

Ahh yes... Sonny's buger for lunch, a couple of brewskis and forget about the afternoon.
I also remember a few professional martini drinkers that liked Sonny's bar.