hi there - [nr north & nr south mexican]

New guy to the forum.....just wanted to introduce myself....I can cook and usually perfer my cooking....that being said, I won't push the best burger/ribs/italian beef things that I barely had a glance at before posting my first message...Apologies to the moderators if I'm using the wrong spot to say hi....

Here is my query...Chicago area Taco and Burrito palaces between and listen cause this is the important part, 26th on the South to Chicago (800) on the North-- Western on the West and Halsted on the East. I'm not looking for a sit down...or a best Margarita joint (ugh) Just a place to grab take out tacos or a burrito.

There are probably over one hundred in the area I suggest so if you know of one a block out of the area, I'd listen, but I really don't want to hear about a place in this suburb or that suburb...lol....Maybe in another post....


Just a tasty taco

thanks[/url]

There are probably over one hundred in the area I suggest ...

I think your estimate of 100 is way too low! I'll just name one, near the southwestern corner of your boundaries: Taqueria Tayahua, on Western just south of 24th St. As you can see in the photo of their wall sign in the linked post, they have tacos and burritos, among other offerings.

Otherwise, I'd recommend going to 18th Street. Between, say, Racine and Damen there must be two dozen places that would fit the bill. Why not try one or two and then tell us what you think?

Taqueria Tayahua
(773) 247-3183
2411 South Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

Hours are 8 a.m. to 12 midnight but on Fridays and Saturdays they're open 24 hours.

Thanks I'll give it a try....I agree that 100 is a low number and I've had a few bad calls...I've moved to the West Loop a while back and was just looking for one of those run and out take out joints....the problem is that there are so many that I'd rather take a suggestion than grab one blindly.....

Mexican is hard. I used to think only 1 in 10 was any good. My estimate is a lot higher now but the reason is, most places are good at a certain group of things and then crank out fairly generic/greasy/uninteresting versions of other standard dishes; you need to zero in on the specialty that a particular place shines at, and that's a matter of figuring out how to look for clues as to what they take pride in, sell the most of, etc. It is not easy, it's a learning curve kinda thing and I (speaking only a tiny bit of Spanish) don't consider myself the most adept by a long shot.

Here's an old thread on Mexican, not totally up to date per the most recent discussions, but it has some good places and dishes that other folks have scoped out:

Short list.

here are a few more places to try, some of these are a little more than basic taquerias, but still worth trying

If you search on these names here or on chowhound you can find more about each

Birrieria Reyes de Ocotlan
1322 W. 18th
(312) 733-2613

Carnitas Don Pedro
1113 W. 18th
(312) 829-4757

Carnitas Uruapan
1725 W. 18th
(312) 226-2654

Casa Del Pueblo
1834 S. Blue Island
(773) 278-0900

El Milagro
1927 S Blue Island
(312) 433-7620

Gonzalez Restaurant
2000 W 18th
(312) 738-1008

Los Comales
1544 W. 18th
(312) 666-2251

Playa Azul
1514 West 18th
(312) 421-2552

Polo Restaurant
1454 W. 18th
(312) 829-9377

Supermarcado Jalisco
1936 W. Chicago
773-486-8208

El Taco Veloz
1745 W. Chicago
312-738-0363

Juana's Buffet (buffet)
2406 S. Western
(773) 523-4166

I looked at all those suggestions, including the ones from the link and didn't see one from the north side. Is there any place along north clark, say, Pratt or north of, were one can find a good mexican snack. There are many places, so many it is hard to know where to begin.

Well, jeez, just look around for Rogers Park on this board and you'll find Las Islas Marias, Dona Lolis, La Cazuela, the tamale guys on north Clark...

Thanks for all the help....I'm really looking for a take out place and just taco's and burritos....

I do have places I do like to sit down at....
I do have places I do like to drink at...

Just want that run in double parked and hope to not get a ticket kind of place and be home in under ten minutes....

I will however eat my way through all suggestions, so thanks/muchas gracias.....

delk, where in the West Loop are you? I realize my previous suggestion of Tayahua is about as far away as one could get from the West Loop. And the West Loop itself is pretty taco-free, unfortunately.

I disagree with Mike G's statement above: I don't think it's hard to find good basic tacos. Maybe one rule of thumb, though, would be to avoid places catering mainly to non-Mexicans. And to check out what other sorts of offerings they have (gorditas, sopes, tortas...). But on the question of good places specifically for take-out I have to admit that I almost never get anything wrapped in a tortilla to go, since sogginess sets in almost immediately...

Finally, just a footnote to zim's impressive list: The Gonzalez Restaurant at 18th and Damen is now El Vaquero.

Well, it depends where you live, Amata.

For instance, if you're lucky enough to live in an area like this, I'm sure it's not.

I, however, live very close to the land of the gringo burrito, with authentic places like Tortas USA and El Milagro sitting cheek by guanciale next to El Loco Famous Taco Burrito Kings, not to mention Chipotle and Taco Bell. So I must exercise far more caution in my Mexican dining....

Okay, that's a good point, Mike.

Since one of the highlights of Mother's Day last weekend was enjoying the mariachi band serenading a mother across the street from us, I guess I'd agree our Italian/Mexican/African-American/med student neighborhood is a bit different from yours.

We were also in your neighborhood, or the neighborhood not far from you anyway as it includes a restaurant I know you guys like, on Mother's Day for the Cinco De Mayo parade. In fact, here's a picture of the restaurant:



Uh, I meant the one that's stationary, not the one going past.

Nothing like taking the kids to other parts of the city to appreciate other cultures...

toniRogersPark wrote:I looked at all those suggestions, including the ones from the link and didn't see one from the north side. Is there any place along north clark, say, Pratt or north of, were one can find a good mexican snack. There are many places, so many it is hard to know where to begin.

ummm, that's because the poster wasn't including rogers park in his geographically specific question

for rogers park, take a look here, or here, here or here

delk wrote:Thanks for all the help....I'm really looking for a take out place and just taco's and burritos....

I do have places I do like to sit down at....
I do have places I do like to drink at...

Just want that run in double parked and hope to not get a ticket kind of place and be home in under ten minutes....

I will however eat my way through all suggestions, so thanks/muchas gracias.....

jeez, did you take a look at that list or search for any of those names? practically all of them fit the bill - in fact one is named el taco veloz

Don't want to be too hard on you but the forum is supposed to be interactive, th emore effort you put in, the more you will get back

zim wrote:
jeez, did you take a look at that list or search for any of those names? practically all of them fit the bill - in fact one is named el taco veloz

Don't want to be too hard on you but the forum is supposed to be interactive, th emore effort you put in, the more you will get back

Sorry, still have my training wheels on here. It was my first post and it coincided with the end of a particularly tough semester. Names, can be deceiving, which is why I asked, afterall, Taco Bell does have "taco" in it's name.....