Located in the heart of Highwood at 548 Sheridan Rd, La Plancha Loca stands as a vibrant destination for those seeking an authentic and memorable dining experience. Our restaurant is built upon a foundation of passion for traditional flavors, warm hospitality, and the belief that a great meal is best enjoyed in the company of friends and family. From the moment you step through our doors, you are welcomed into an environment that balances casual comfort with a genuine dedication to culinary excellence. We take pride in being a part of the Highwood community, serving as a gathering place where neighbors and visitors alike can come together to share in the joy of well-prepared food.
At La Plancha Loca, we focus on the art of the grill and the importance of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Our kitchen team works diligently to ensure that every dish reflects a commitment to consistency and flavor. Whether you are stopping by for a quick lunch or settling in for a relaxed dinner, our goal is to provide a dining experience that feels both personal and professional. We believe that the secret to a successful restaurant lies in the details—the care put into sourcing our components, the precision of our cooking techniques, and the genuine smiles of our staff who are here to ensure your visit is nothing short of exceptional.
Why Guests Choose La Plancha Loca
Authentic Culinary Approach: We prioritize time-honored cooking methods that highlight the natural profiles of our ingredients, ensuring that every bite is packed with depth and character.
Community-Centric Atmosphere: Situated conveniently on Sheridan Road, our space is designed to be inviting and accessible, making it the perfect backdrop for celebrations, casual outings, or quiet evenings.
Commitment to Quality: We maintain rigorous standards for our kitchen operations, focusing on freshness and the careful preparation of every order to meet the expectations of our diverse clientele.
Dedicated Service: Our team is committed to providing attentive and friendly service, fostering a welcoming environment where every guest feels valued and well-cared for throughout their meal.
The philosophy behind La Plancha Loca is simple: we want to provide a space where the quality of the food speaks for itself and the atmosphere encourages guests to linger a little longer. We understand that in today’s fast-paced world, finding a place that feels like a home away from home is a rare luxury. That is why we strive to maintain a consistent, high-quality experience that honors the traditions of our craft while remaining relevant to the tastes of our local community in Illinois. We invite you to explore our menu and discover the unique flavors that define our kitchen.
Whether you are a long-time resident of Highwood or just passing through the area, we look forward to the opportunity to serve you. Our doors are open to those who appreciate the intersection of good food, great company, and a relaxed setting. We continuously refine our processes to ensure that every visit to 548 Sheridan Rd is better than the last. Thank you for considering La Plancha Loca for your next dining occasion; we are eager to share our passion for cooking with you and hope to become a staple in your regular rotation of favorite local spots.
As we look toward the future, our focus remains steadfast on the principles that brought us here: integrity in our ingredients, passion in our preparation, and a deep respect for the people we serve. We believe that food is a universal language, and at La Plancha Loca, we speak it with heart. We invite you to join us soon and experience firsthand the dedication and care that go into every dish we serve. Your support means the world to our team, and we are honored to be a part of the vibrant culinary landscape of Highwood.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Service options
Outdoor seating
Delivery
Onsite services
Takeout
Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service
Great cocktails
Serves local specialty
Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Comfort food
Hard liquor
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom
Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Trendy
Crowd
Groups
Tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Usually plenty of parking
Menus
Drinks
Tamarindo$3.50
Horchata$3.50
Sides
Arroz$3.00
Frijoles$3.00
Nopales$3.50
2 Oz, 8 Oz Guacamole$3.00
Totopos$2.50
Cebollitas$3.50
Papitas$3.00
Habanero Salsa 2oz$0.99
Desserts
Fried Plantains$6.99
Flan$5.50
Burritos
Arrachera (Skirt Steak) Burrito$16.50
Friend Shrimp Burrito$16.50
Asada (Steak) Burrito$13.50
Mahi Mahi Burrito$16.50
Chorizo Burrito$13.50
Ground Beef Burrito$13.50
Al Pastor Burrito$13.50
Plancha Shrimp Burrito$16.50
Tinga (Chicken) Burrito$13.50
Janitzio Fish Burrito$16.50
Campechano Burrito$13.50
Plancha Fish Burrito$16.50
Soy Chorizo Burrito$13.50
Appetizers
Chips & Pico De Gallo$7.00
8oz Guac$8.00
Chips & Guacamole$12.00
Chips And Salsa$6.00
Tortas
Milanesa De Pollo Torta$14.99
Asada Torta$13.99
Torta Cubana Milanesa De Res$16.00
Al Pastor Torta$13.99
Chorizo Torta$13.99
Tinga Torta$13.99
Milanesa De Res Torta$14.99
Torta Cubana Milanesa De Pollo$16.00
Campechano Torta$13.99
Kid's Quesadilla
Kids Quesadilla$2.50
Tacos
Cabeza$4.99
Plancha Shrimp$4.99
Campechano$3.99
Tinga$3.99
Guac Taco$4.99
Volcan$4.99
Tripa$4.99
Al Pastor$3.99
Plancha Fish$4.99
Taco Dinner$14.50
Chorizo$3.99
Baja$4.99
Diablos$4.99
Gringa$4.99
Janitzio Fish$4.99
Rib-Eye Steak$4.99
Arrachera$4.99
Asada$3.99
Veggie Chorizo$4.99
Lengua$4.99
Taquitos Dorados$9.99
Fried Shrimp$4.99
Big Quesadilla
Campechano Big Quesadilla$13.99
Tinga (Chicken) Big Quesadilla$13.99
Cheese Big Quesadilla$11.99
Ground Beef Big Quesadilla$13.99
Asada (Steak) Big Quesadilla$13.99
Chorizo Big Quesadilla$13.99
Al Pastor Big Quesadilla$13.99
Photos
Reviews La Plancha Loca
David Mooney
30-05-2026
Great little taco shop with some delicious options. Simple menu with street taco favorites. The al pastor is a must, and the shrimp taco was excellently prepared. The tortillas were fresh and perfectly cooked. Really great table salsas as well. Looking forward to try more of their tacos.
Jeffrey Cohen
30-05-2026
Terrific tacos, burritos, chips and guacamole. Tacos and burritos were so fresh! Chips were fresh and crunchy. Helpful staff.
Nicole Grigg
30-05-2026
Friends and I tried their tacos and cosume. The food was average at best. We tipped generously and they never said thank you for the nice tip. Then I went to put hot sauce on my tacos and I was chastised by the chef that I used the wrong … More
T L
30-05-2026
I love this place great hard-working owners. Talking about amazing tacos, tortas burritos, plantains and now they even have a bar. I’m loving it
Jose Luis Ramirez
30-05-2026
First time trying this place and wow!! The Al pastor tacos & asada are really good!! Hawaiian torta & quesadilla as well. Check them out More
Michael Popa
30-05-2026
Best quesadilla I’ve ever had, tacos were delicious and as authentic as you can have. Will definitely recommend to everyone I know 👍🏼 … More
Adrian Gonzalez
30-05-2026
I got one of every taco!! Just to get the full experience! And believe me nothing disappointed. The next friday i got the birria tacos which i encourage everyone to try, they are astounding!! Some of the best ive had, and definitely the … More
Owen Scheuer
30-05-2026
This restaurant is so good! It’s a very small but the food is delicious. I got the Al Pastor Tacos
Or…
More
Jay Raw
30-05-2026
Very Very Very good!! I was at the light after leaving the festival. I tried it at the festival and didn’t know they had a location. I took a picture of the place while at the light. I think the officer thought I was taking it of him … More
Angelica Hood
30-05-2026
Great and amazing things come in small packages and La Plancha Loca is a perfect example of this saying. The place is small but very bright, the smells of the food that roam the air make your mouth water. The friendliness of the staff … More
Lis R
30-05-2026
The food is great but slightly more expensive than other places in the area.
There is no space to move around, may cause anxiety for some people. Most of the seating area is outside, and parking is very limited. More
Joshua Jones
30-05-2026
Best taco selection of any Mexican restaurant I've been to in a long time. Prices were good and lots of outdoor seating if you're looking for a safe place to eat during covid. Staff was nice even though they had a massive lineup of … More
Caitlyn Lee
30-05-2026
A small restaurant with a cute retro vibe. Ordered the tacos and the torta cubana. They were all good. Very friendly staff.
Mahmood Alwash
30-05-2026
La plancha are the best, when I used to eat meat I loved them and when I am vegan now I love them. The only issue is them not including the soy chorizo on the tuesday special. More
B Roothaan
30-05-2026
Very fresh healthy food. Nice owner and I like giving my money to people that are kind. The best food you will ever eat at an affordable price. Cute ambiance, very dramatic town that looks like a Hollywood stage set. Beautiful drive up to Highwood and a very kind colorful town More
Vahid Mir
30-05-2026
This is my first time trying this location. I’ve tried 4 different tacos, Personally felt that there are no taste.
Order type
Delivery
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 3
Recommended dishes
Steak Tacos, Al Pastor, Asada, Plancha Shrimp, Fried
Noise level
Not sure
Ed Brill
30-05-2026
Gave it another try after a couple years away. Solid stuff. I think they should just offer a standard onion and cilantro prep for more of the tacos; the fish options sound good and I’m sure they’ll do it however I want, but I hate having to … More
Burt
30-05-2026
Good not great Mexican food at a decent price. The Al Pastor is definitely the highlight, the ground beef and steak filling are just "okay“ overall the spice is not as bold as I would like. More
Francisco Martinez
30-05-2026
This is a small taco shack but a damn good one. Probably the best in Chicagoland. If I come back another day I will try at least 5 different Tacos. I only tried 2 on my first visit. They have an outstanding variety. I tried the fried Mahi … More
T K
30-05-2026
We ordered carry-out and I had to wait 10+ minutes as the cashier kept taking more and more phone orders while I stood there in front of them. Then I had to wait even longer after paying for the cashier to get around to filling our … More
Priscilla L
30-05-2026
The weekend quesabirria is what got me hooked! If you're ordering for pickup, online doesn't give you the option so call. All the other tacos I've tried are also delicious. It's a small location, so be prepared not to dine in. When weather is good they have tables outside. More
Merve Naja
30-05-2026
We were driving through the area and we just tried the tacos here out of curiosity. We did not see this coming honestly! They have their al pastor very visibly on display in the prep area and it’s the fist thing you see when you enter this … More
Christopher Regala
30-05-2026
I really enjoyed my experience here. I loved Vampiro and Diablo taco. Tripes and chorizo together were amazing. I had horchata too. I went to the Cantina after for some drinks. They didn’t disappoint. I will come back. More
Stephanie Soto
30-05-2026
This is one of the best place for tacos in Highwood! We absolutely love this spot and even had their taco truck cater our wedding. Our guests raved about their tacos all night! The staff here are always so friendly and their specialty tacos … More
Aizik Zimerman
30-05-2026
This place is really cool. It’s basically a little taco stand with great food and a great vibe.
Order type
Dine in
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Moderate noise
Wait time
No wait
Sarah
30-05-2026
This has always been my favorite taco place and the recent addition of the bar dining area next door will mean I visit more often. We ordered our tacos and then went next door and sat at the bar. Our food was delivered in to go containers five minutes later. I would even come here for the wide cocktail menu and not just for the food!
Order type
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Daniel Arias
30-05-2026
Can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. Great friendly service, only a few minutes of wait. I personally love their tortas and I think they may have a special secret with their cheese because it tastes delicious and I haven’t found anything similar anywhere else.
Order type
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Marco Zavala
30-05-2026
When I think what to say about my experience in this restaurant, the only words that come to my mind are: What a place !👌🏽 If you are a truly mexican food lover, particularly Tacos 🌮 this is the place, believe me, the only issue is that you need to be patience, it is a busy place.
The tacos (Pastor, Fish, Volcan, Vampiro, Quezabirria, Asada, etc.) were delicious!
Everything was so tasty. Strongly recommended to dine-in, to go or Catering, we ordered for the Office too, and was fantastic. Now, is even better, they opened a beautiful and cozy bar in the building next and it is amazing, you can order a great tacos while you are enjoying a nice drink 🍻
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Al Pastor, Steak Tacos
Nicholas Pignatari
30-05-2026
I have dined with La PLancha and enjoyed myself. And just recently had them cater a staff party. pricing is always reasonable and the amount of food you get is amazing. it was so easy to work with them. took no time at all to place the order, pick up was right on time and they helped load it into my car. if you need tacos for a party or just hungry. Get them from Plancha.
Order type
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
No wait
Cesar C
30-05-2026
La Plancha Loca Taqueria is truly and unapologetically authentic.
This is real Mexican street food, no Americanized nonsense pretending tacos need lettuce and tomato. Just proper tortillas, bold flavors, and food that knows exactly what it’s doing. This place is a hidden gem in Highwood, and we gladly drive about 35 minutes to get here. For fun, we have even taken the train just for these tacos. That is commitment, and yes, they are worth it.
The maestros taqueros working the grill and the counter are straight-up artists of Mexican street gastronomy. You can taste the skill, the experience, and the pride in every bite. Great variety, very fair prices, authentic flavors, and genuine Mexico vibes all around.
Highly recommended. This place does not try to impress. It just does.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
2 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Counter seating
Reviews La Plancha Loca