DEL TACO on 95th

Sorry, kinda bored at work, and this popped into my post-lunch-pre-end-of-day-wandering mind deep thoughts.

I know these are all over Cali, but never stopped in one during my visits. Figured they were just Taco Bell-esque kinda joints. Now that we have one here, I'm tempted to stop in next time I'm around.
Anyone have any experience(s) or suggestions?
Del Taco
9507 S. CICERO AVE.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Phone: (708) 229-1988
14.18 Miles

Oh man. Del Taco was a post-drinking staple during college in St. Louis. It's completely crappy, but great for soaking up alcohol.

It's total junk. It makes taco bell seem great. You get a whole lot of nothing, the chicken is of the lowest quality (dark meat, fatty). The "macho burritos" are just stuffed with low quality veggies and beans and the meat is scarce.

It is the worst attempt at trying to imitate real mexican food.

If you're out that late, skip Del Taco and hit the White Castle next door.

mmm, fatty dark meat!

The rest doesn't sound appetizing.

Anyhow, I off to fry up some fatty chicken thighs.

Flip

UniAddict wrote:It's total junk. It makes taco bell seem great. You get a whole lot of nothing, the chicken is of the lowest quality (dark meat, fatty). The "macho burritos" are just stuffed with low quality veggies and beans and the meat is scarce.

It is the worst attempt at trying to imitate real mexican food.

If you're out that late, skip Del Taco and hit the White Castle next door.

I've always preferred Del Taco to Taco Bell, although I usually only eat there when I travel to the San Joaquin Valley as there is one next door to the hotel I sometimes stay at in Modesto. Their beans have more flavor and their crispy fish tacos aren't too bad. I also like that they have fries.

NIIIIICE find.

best chained chicken soft taco around. not a reason to stay in Chicago, but doesn't hurt.

UniAddict wrote:the chicken is of the lowest quality (dark meat, fatty).

Having never been to a Del Taco, since when does fatty, dark chicken meat equal low quality? I'll take moist, flavorful, fatty dark meat over dry, lean, tastless white anyday.

(I pontificate somewhat... of course both are better suited to certain contexts, but I'll never understand the misguided notion that dark = bad when it comes to chicken.)

Dmnkly wrote:(I pontificate somewhat... of course both are better suited to certain contexts, but I'll never understand the misguided notion that dark = bad when it comes to chicken.)

I concur. In fact, in many other cultures, white meat is the bad, cheap meat. Dark meat is prized, especially in Mexico.

Best,
Michael

Dmnkly wrote: (but I'll never understand the misguided notion that dark = bad when it comes to chicken.)

Blame it on advertising or the "lean" = "good" craze. For some reason, general American tastes lean towards leanness. Look at pork these days, or how 5% fat beef is sometimes used for burgers, with its leanness advertised as something good (MADE WITH 95% FAT-FREE SIRLOIN...ugh.. give me 20% or fattier chuck any day). For some reason "made with 100% chicken breast" has become synonymous with most consumers as being some sort of mark of quality. Why? I don't know. I assume it has to do with some perception of it being healthier. I'll take a thigh or drumstick most any day.

Binko wrote:

Dmnkly wrote: (but I'll never understand the misguided notion that dark = bad when it comes to chicken.)

Blame it on advertising or the "lean" = "good" craze. For some reason, general American tastes lean towards leanness. Look at pork these days, or how 5% fat beef is sometimes used for burgers, with its leanness advertised as something good (MADE WITH 95% FAT-FREE SIRLOIN...ugh.. give me 20% or fattier chuck any day). For some reason "made with 100% chicken breast" has become synonymous with most consumers as being some sort of mark of quality. Why? I don't know. I assume it has to do with some perception of it being healthier. I'll take a thigh or drumstick most any day.

I have to agree UniAddict. I know it's a preference thing, but dark meat chicken is fatty and juicy and flavorful. Last time I saw boneless skinless thighs for 99c a lb, I bought close to 30 lbs. I have seen over this winter, however, boneless skinless thighs being priced higher than boneless skinless breast on multiple occasions at certi-savers. Here we go again!
Maybe BS thighs will be the new skirt steak. My dad tells me that skirt used to be considered a "garbage" cut. Now it's the bees knees, and priced accordingly (at the "BIG" grocery stores anyway - lol)
Man, do I love my mexican grocery stores, and certi savers.

Well, out of curiosity for this thread, I stopped by Del Taco this afternoon to try two fish and two chicken tacos. The verdict? Inoffensive. Not something I would drive out of my way for, but nothing particularly bad. A little bland, if anything. The fish tacos were deep-fried fish patties, with a little crunch to them, although not as much as I wanted. Flavor was minimal (think a slight step above frozen fish sticks), but it was served topped with shredded cabbage and mayo, and a wedge of lime on the side, which I appreciated. I would have these again.

The chicken tacos, served on a single griddled flour tortilla, were similarly inoffensive. Meat was juicy and flavorful, although I didn't appreciate the mayo sauce it was doused in. I wasn't expecting that in a chicken taco, and I had reached my daily quota with the fish tacos. Shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and orange cheese added more to texture and color than any discernible flavor.

The ingredients certainly seemed fresh, but overall result was fairly bland. I'd definitely do the fish tacos again if I were in the area, but I'm not going to make a special drive out there for it. On the scale of Americanized Mexican fast food, I think it's a clear step ahead of Taco Bell, but a step behind Baja Fresh.

Binko wrote:although I didn't appreciate the mayo sauce it was doused in.

them's FIGHTING words. i HEART that mayo sauce.

The botton line on Del Taco....IF you used to be a Taco Bell fan pre-1990 (when IMHO it was one of the best national chains for a quick Mex fix), then you will like Del Taco...in fact, I find it even better..

No, definitely not worth going out of your way for...but if one opens in my neighborhood, certainly would welcome it..

I just heard about the comments here. Let me be a little more specific. I like dark meat, I agree with that. But this was super low quality, I ran into some cartilege and almost gagged (inedible). It was just awful. I've had plenty of real chicken from real mexican places. This stuff was like stray chickens found running around and put through a grinder and served at del taco.

The last time I had something that bad, it was a KFC. When I broke through the breading...there were FEATHERS. Sorry if I ruined anyone's meal at the moment.

Mike

Did anyone hear the NPR story on Del Taco? It was the greatest day in the guy's life when Del Taco opened here, because that was his perfect taco, and he couldn't satisfy his craving here. That comment still makes my brain hurt, and thinking about that radio segment still gets me riled up. It just made no sense.

I know none of you need to be told this, but Chicago tacos rule. And if you are getting a taco in California, find a taco truck, not a Del Taco. Good grief.

Thanks for lettiing me rant,
Steve Holt!

My experience with Del Taco, based on a few visits to some branches in Oxnard California is that it is completely bland. I find it to be less satisfying than Taco Bell simply because it lacks flavor almost entirely.

Steve Holt! wrote:Did anyone hear the NPR story on Del Taco? It was the greatest day in the guy's life when Del Taco opened here, because, he said there's "no Mexican food in Chicago." That comment still makes my brain hurt, and thinking about that radio segment still gets me riled up. It just made no sense.

I hadn't heard it, but here's where you can listen to it:

Eight Forty-Eight: The Search for the Perfect Taco

A national fast-food chain is making its first venture in the Chicago area. This may not make headlines for most, but for one South Sider, it’s the thing he’s always wanted, and rarely been able to have.

Bill Kempf runs an auto repair shop on the southwest side of Chicago. He turned 30-years-old this past weekend. "

I don't think he actually said there's no Mexican food in Chicago, although there's no transcript; maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention...

You're right. Sorry, my memory must have been clouded by rage.

Steve,
Could you kindly point me in the direction of those Chicago tacos that "rule"? We visit there quite often and haven't found a taco that approaches L.A. quality yet. But with Chicago's huge Mexican population I have high hopes that they do indeed exist.
Next time in town, we plan on checking out the Maxwell St. Market, and I know there are some great places for Mexican home cooking. But the perfect taqueria has, at least for me, been very elusive so far. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff from Michigan wrote:Could you kindly point me in the direction of those Chicago tacos that "rule"? We visit there quite often and haven't found a taco that approaches L.A. quality yet. But with Chicago's huge Mexican population I have high hopes that they do indeed exist.
Next time in town, we plan on checking out the Maxwell St. Market, and I know there are some great places for Mexican home cooking. But the perfect taqueria has, at least for me, been very elusive so far. Any help would be much appreciated.

The Maxwell St. Market is indeed a good start.

Where have you been that you haven't enjoyed?

In this thread you'll find links to info about the Albany Park neighborhood, mostly along Lawrence and (further down in the thread) Montrose.

All-time favorites in that area are tacos de cabeza at La Piramide, al pastor at San Juanito, and chorizo at El Gallo #1.

But, Albany Park is one of many neighborhoods with a strong Mexican population....

Best,
Michael

My friend really likes La Pasadita on Ashland and Division. Here's another taco discussion:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=12954

I did like the Maxwell Street Market, but didn't have the nerve to try the eyeballs. Someday...

No, I don't think I'll be trying the eyeball tacos anytime soon...
Thanks to eatchicago and Steve for the suggestions and links. (And to everyone else who contributed to the threads.)
We stay with friends in the Lincoln Park area, but in all fairness they're no experts when it comes to Mexican food. We've tried a few of the places around there, west along Diversey, etc....Nothing has stood out, but as I said, I truly believe great tacos do exist in Chicago.
I found several outstanding ones in L.A. a couple of years ago as a direct result of looking at Chowhound, LTHF and (especially) Bandini's "The Great Taco Hunt". I have little doubt that this journey will also be fruitful.
I'll try to give those links and suggestions a look after a full day of Church, Home Depot and yardwork.
Thanks again, folks.
Jeff

I'm hesitant to make recommendations -- if you're travelling from Michigan, it seems like your expectations will be sky high!

Anyway, I think "best taco" is even dicey: in my experience, most places have one great kind of taco, but others may be largely underwhelming. Maybe not most places, but often. For example, I am a longtime fan of al pastor from locations in the Taqueria El Ranchito chain, but I have never found their carne asada or chicken tacos to be very good at all. On the other hand, Supermercado Chapala in Rogers Park has excellent roast chicken tacos, but the al pastor seems to be middling. (To be fair, the first time I had their al pastor I was really excited by it, but it hasn't repeated.)

Speaking of tacos al pastor, here's a long thread about them and places that serve them.

They serve a few interesting tacos at El Rey del Taco (which is rumored to be affiliated with El Ranchito) in Rogers Park.

Taqueria El Ranchito
4651 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
(773) 334-6441
(and other locations, but this is probably closest to Lincoln Park)

Supermercado Chapala
7117 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
(773) 465-3907

El Rey Del Taco
7104 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
(773) 262-9411