Taqueria y Cafeteria Siglo XX [LTHForum Taqueria Project]

LTH,

Slightly overshadowed by Joe's Supermercado, a spotless well stocked Hispanic grocery, Taqueria y Cafeteria Siglo XX is fairly easy to miss, in fact I did not have it on my original list, though after only one visit I can say exclusion would have been a serious oversight.

Pausing as my eyes adjusted from sunshine, my first sight, a hot case of prepared foods; empanadas, juicy chicken, strips of meaty crisp chicharrones and pork, alerted of good things to come.

Taqueria y Cafeteria Siglo XX


Siglo has a mix of Colombian and Mexican with, possibly, a slightly greater emphasis on Colombian, if the pretty young woman I chatted with, as she placed an advance order for 100 empanadas for a party, is any indication.

Lunch started with a basket of fresh tortilla chip and jalapeno based fresh salsa, mildly hot, slightly salty, highly addictive.


As I munched chips and perused the menu one of the cooks ladled out a steaming bowl of "pork soup", which I immediately ordered. Ever so slightly thick, I'm guessing from pureed vegetables, the soup was very satisfying and surprisingly light.


As chorizo is one of the Taqueria Project benchmarks I ordered both Colombian style chorizo with an arepa and Mexican style tacos, one chorizo, one carne asada.


The two tacos were fine, expertly griddled and flavorful, though lacking in the crisp bits of char that, at least for me, elevate. The Colombian chorizo, on the other hand, was delicious, assertive, yet not overbearing, spicing, and large meaty chunks of pork encased in the sausage.

Siglo's Colombian Chorizo


The staff seemed a bit bemused by my picture taking, though, after they saw I was truly enjoying lunch, they embraced the idea to the extent the very sweet waitress stopped for me to snap a picture of plates being served.

Empanadas and Chicharrones


Plate lunch of chicken with rice, beans and salad


I saw my new Damn the Torpedos breakfast being served, large chunks of chicharrones nestled up to a large mound of steaming white rice topped with three perfectly fried eggs. Unfortunately, no picture.

Cushioned bar type stools at a chest high counter provide a ringside view of the griddle area, with 4-5 booths running along the wall providing seating in the small, yet comfortable space. Two friendly cooks, pretty waitress with a shy smile, patrons who are so enthused about the food they break into song* and reasonable prices.

Taqueria y Cafeteria Siglo XX is another great addition to the LTHForum Taqueria Project.

Enjoy,
Gary

*The song was a pleasant, sweet moment, not a lengthy alcohol induced overbearing atonal blurt.

Taqueria y Cafeteria Siglo XX
3626 W Lawrence
Chicago, IL 60625
773-267-7129

Gary,

That salsa is enough to get me in the door really soon, and the Columbian chorizo is enough to keep me there. Sigloxx's South American-Mexican hybrid cuisine makes it seem like a real Lawrence Ave. treasure

Nice work. This project just keeps paying off over and over again.

(I've edited the original list to include Sigloxx.

Best,
Michael