NW Indiana - El Taco Real

Rene G and Cathy2 are not the only ones on this board who like to explore Northwest Indiana -- it's close to us and there are plenty of dining options right over the border!

For several months, a couple we are friendly with have been trying to get together for dinner with us. They live in Chesterton, Indiana and we live in Homewood, Illinois. Last night we tried to find a restaurant that would be convenient for both couples and ended up at El Taco Real in Hammond, Indiana.

El Taco Real has been mentioned a few times on this Board by a poster who says it has great food, so I was curious to try it. Our Chesterton friends told us that the guy who drives them to the airport is always telling them to try it if they want good Mexican food. I also have a good friend in Whiting who raves about the place and has been going there for the past twenty years. I reasoned if this is a place that has been around for that long, they must be doing something right.

When we first arrived at 7:00 p.m., the place was packed. Our friends had arrived a few minutes before us and put our name on a waiting list. In the meantime, we went into the crowded bar area to have a drink and wait for our table. It is interesting that six weeks into the Illinois no smoking ban I was startled to be in a packed, smokey bar having a beer. There is no smoking in the restaurant itself, but smoking is allowed in the bar area. We waited about a half hour for our table, but once seated we were given a basket of fresh chips, some very good pico de gallo and another small plate with crumbled cheese and jalapeno peppers. Our waitress was happy to refill our drinks and take an order for appetizers. The other couple quickly ordered guacamole. I was initially disappointed that they were not ordering something a bit more adventurous but the generous serving we received was quite good -- very fresh and chunky, not pureed to death. Chips were refilled promptly and the plate of guacamole quickly disappeared.

El Taco Real has weekend specials printed on the back of the menu. I opted for their pollo relleno and my husband ordered the chili rellenos. We both love chili rellenos, but lately they don't love me, especially in the middle of the night, so I was reluctant to order them. He got one beef and one cheese stuffed pepper. I thought the batter on the chilis was a little heavy, but he was very happy with them and said he would order them again in a heartbeat. My pollo relleno was not what I was expecting -- the menu said it was a chicken breast stuffed with spices, vegetables and cheese, wrapped with bacon. It actually came covered in a very rich, spicy yellow sauce that I was not expecting, although the flavor was very good. It was so rich that I could barely eat half of my entree and ended up bringing most of it home for today's lunch. I actually thought it tasted better today when I heated it up. Rice and beans rounded up the meal and were quite good.

Would I put this restaurant on par with Amancer in Joliet? Not really. However, we do plan to go back again with the kids and try some other items on the menu. Service was terrific, prices were reasonable, portions were very generous and judging by the line out the door, this place isn't going anywhere for a long time. I look forward to trying it again soon.

Suzy

El Taco Real
935 E Hoffman St
Hammond, IN 46327
(219) 932-8333

Thanks, Suzy! Great report. I will be in Hammond in early March for work and am hoping to check this and a few other places out.