Pulpo Loco

After passing the restaurant countless times, we finally had the time to stop for a meal at Pulpo Loco ("crazy octopus" in Spanish). Seafood dominates the menu, though there are also tortas, huaraches, and specials on the weekend, notably posoles and corundas with guisado de puerco, a specialty from Michoacan. You can have a tostada with octopus ceviche, or, as we did, a combination ceviche at $4.99 with lots of octopus and fish. As an appetizer, it was more than enough for both of us, especially since, instead of salsa, they gave us a bowl of fish ceviche along with saltines. I would have preferred tortilla chips, but the complimentary ceviche was delicious and we polished it off gladly. The menu is mostly fish and shrimp: several seafood soups, plus shrimp, mojarra (whole tilapia,I believe), huachinango (whole red snapper), and for the more timid, fish filets prepared in a variety of styles. We had the shrimp encocado (in coconut), six shrimp in coconut flavored batter, accompanied by rice, salad, a mixed vegetable macedoine, tortillas (you can have bread instead of tortillas ... but why?) and a marvelous pureed jalapeno salsa which is nicely hot without being overpowering. We also had one of the non fish offerings, a huarache topped with hongos and rajas (mushrooms and a very generous serving of extra fresh strips of poblano peppers). The restaurant is BYOB, though they serve both US and Mexican coke, Mexican soft drinks, and their own tamarindo and horchata. We had a medium tamarindo and a large – I should say huge – horchata.
This was clearly a family operation, with mother from Michoacan in the kitchen, daughter serving the tables (the daughter has clearly lived most her life in the US, so non-Spanish speakers need not worry about translation!) and a very cute granddaughter bicycling between the tables. We will definitely be back; this is a very nice addition to the lineup of restaurants along Clark Street in Rogers Park.

El Pulpo Loco
6619 N. Clark

I enjoyed the lunch at Pulpo Loco today with the Evanston Lunch Group. The storefront restaurant was neat as a pin, and our waitress (the daughter of the operation, I believe) was friendly and efficient. We tried a number of dishes whose names I don't recall correctly, and I'm afraid I didn't take a menu, but what stood out for me was the excellent octopus ceviche, which had a perfect texture and bright flavors. The shrimp-cake like item was both fluffy and fishy, a combination I didn't care for. The shrimp with nopales were fine. The whole red snapper was in a tasty sauce but was a bit dry. The fish ceviche on the table instead of salsa was good if a bit bland, but a selection of hot sauces sits in front of you if you want to spice it up. I had a nice Jamaica served in a styrofoam to-go cup. Prices were very reasonable--perhaps the most inexpensive ELG meal in years.

This is a nice option for those in the neighborhood or close to it, like me. I would like to explore the menu further. Thanks to Robert & Catherine for arranging.

I'll echo everything Evy said. The only miss was the shrimp cake, but everything else was good. My piece of snapper, from an area near the tail, was a bit overcooked, but the saucing on it made it delicious nonetheless.

If I get motivated, I'll put up food porn from the lunch soon.