Best Tortas in Chicago?

OK, so I am a total tortas noob, but I searched the forum and there isn't a centralized thread about these amazing sandwiches. After a life-changing experience at an incredible place in San Francisco (That's It Market - the nation's best liquor store/convenience store/torta counter), I'm on the lookout for places in Chicago to get a great torta. Doesn't have to be anything out of the ordinary, I just want great renditions of the basics. What you got for me?

Two of my favorites are Taco Veloz and Xoco (Bayless; similar versions at Tortas Frontera if you end up at O'Hare or Chase Tower).

Santander wrote:Two of my favorites are Taco Veloz and Xoco (Bayless; similar versions at Tortas Frontera if you end up at O'Hare or Chase Tower).

Interesting and thanks for the tips. I'll definitely put Taco Velez on the list of places being considered for my monthly cheap eats club. Are the tortas at Xoco on the traditional side? Or does Bayless put a "sophisticated" twist on things?

Are the tortas at Xoco on the traditional side? Or does Bayless put a "sophisticated" twist on things?

A bit of both, leaning more toward traditional. I'm partial to the ahogada, the cochinita pibil, and especially the goat barbacoa (see Saturday's special):


Tortas from the Woodburning Oven (vegetarian beans available upon request)


Torta de Hamburguesa: Grilled shortrib-chuck patty, homemade chorizo, artisan Jack cheese, local tomatoes, roasted poblanos, arugula. $12.50

Baja Chicken: Gunthorp garlic chicken, homemade chipotle mayo, Napa cabbage/radish slaw, black beans. $11.00

Ahogada: Golden pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce, pickled onions. (Dine-in Only) $10.00

Choriqueso: Homemade chorizo sausage, roasted poblano, artisan Jack cheese, tomatillo salsa. $9.00

Woodland Mushroom: Wood-roasted garlic mushrooms, Prairie Farm goat cheese, black beans, wild arugula, 3-chile salsa. $9.50

Pepito: Braised Tallgrass shortribs, caramelized onion, artisan Jack, black beans, pickled jalapenos. $12.00

Cochinita Pibil: Wood-roasted suckling pig with achiote, black beans, pickled onion, habanero. $12.00

Tortas from the Griddle (vegetarian beans available upon request)

Cubana: Smoked Gunthorp pork loin and bacon, black beans, avocado, artisan Jack, chipotle mustard, Morita chiles, homemade cilantro crema. $11.50

Milanesa: Crispy Gunthorp chicken, black beans, artisan Jack cheese, pickled jalapenos & red onions, Napa cabbage, tomatillo-avocado salsa, homemade cilantro crema. $10.25

Daily Special Tortas

Tuesday - Carne Asada: Tallgrass flank steak, wild ramp chimichuri, local mushrooms, homemade crema. $12.75

Wednesday - Pork Belly: Dark salsa negra glaze, bacon, arugula, queso anejo $12.00

Thursday - Shortrib: Guajillo braised shortribs, grilled cactus salad, avocado, black beans. $12.50

Friday - Smoky Garlic Shrimp: Seared shrimp, chipotle-garlic mojo, black beans, caramelized onions, goat cheese, arugula. $12.00

Saturday - Goat Barbacoa: Braised goat, Oaxacan pasilla-tomatillo salsa, avocado, onions & cilantro. $12.00

not quite a Torta, but cemitas pueblas is pretty darn good.

(they do have tortas there but really, go for the cemitas)

This is a great topic. I tend to think that besides Cemitas Puebla and Xoco, Chicago just doesn't have great Mexican sandwiches relative to things like tacos, huaraches, carne en su jugo, etc., etc., etc. Seems like Rene G and others went on a mostly futile search for decent tortas ahogadas a few years back and found a lot of meh.

But there are definitely a lot of tortas to explore, in particular the super tortas discussed here:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36761

These are maximalist to the extreme and just not my thing but seem fun.

Dona Torta also gets occasional love around these parts:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1057

I'm sure others can chime in with numerous other threads.

Dona Torta also gets occasional love around these parts:

Just a heads up that Doña Torta has moved from its Ashland location; it's now at 3331 W. 26th St in Pilsen.

geli wrote:

Dona Torta also gets occasional love around these parts:

Just a heads up that Doña Torta has moved from its Ashland location; it's now at 3331 W. 26th St in Pilsen.

I know and I rue the day that I tried it just for the admittedly delicious red pozole. It used to be walking distance from my place!

queequeg's_steak wrote:This is a great topic. I tend to think that besides Cemitas Puebla and Xoco, Chicago just doesn't have great Mexican sandwiches relative to things like tacos, huaraches, carne en su jugo, etc., etc., etc. Seems like Rene G and others went on a mostly futile search for decent tortas ahogadas a few years back and found a lot of meh.

It's interesting that you say this since I say that very thing to friends who don't live in this city only as relates to burritos.

Thanks all for these recommendations and keep 'em coming if you've got them. I've already added a couple to the list of places for my monthly cheap eats club.

I'd definitely add Dona Torta. It's not really comparable to Xoco but an equally good experience.

As much Mexican food as I eat, tortas are not something I eat alot of. I am a big fan of Xoco's versions which have a superior bread than most. Actually same goes for the ingredients inside them. I really like their cochinita pibil offering but it might of met it's match this weekend at the Nosh Fest in Wicker Park. Mixteco was serving up their own cochinita pibil torta with a black bean spread, pickled red onions, mayo and salsa ($6). So good.


We need more street food like this

the carne asada torta at El Asadero on Montrose near Lincoln is one of my favorite sandwiches in the city

I'll put in a recommendation for Cemitas Pueblo.
We stopped there today for lunch and had Al Pastor and the Arabica Cemitas off the vertical spit.
Chalupas were an excellent accompaniment.
Nice family type well run place. -Dick