Finally a decent taco in the loop

Although not the last word in carne asada, Zacatacos newest location at 17 S. Wabash has definitely cured the midday taco fix. For two bucks a piece, (loop tax, I guess) they are serving a pretty well stuffed taco. Choices are carne asada, pollo al carbon, picadillo, taco de papa and vegetarian. It is pork free but I estimated a few dishes they have added for the loop crowd: a monster of a taco salad, with above choice of meat, beans, rice, sour cream, cheese(unspecified) iceberg and tomato, as well as nachos, with cheese sauce. A co-worker tried them, i felt it a huge waste of char grilled beef.
They have a list of torta's, but I can never make it in peak hours so they have been out of the telera every time I've dined, as well as dinner plates, enchilada's and chimichangas.

So far I have just ventured in the taco realm, with carne asada, pollo, and picadillo(sopped in its own grease). You also have the option of tomatillo or chile de arbol salsa. Everything suffered because it is held on a steam table after it is grilled, but then again it is actually grilled so the char remains. Like I said earlier, they aren't reinventing the wheel, but it is refreshing to have as a loop option, in my opinion a proper taco.

Stopped into Zapatacos today for a quick lunch. I had two carne asada tacos on flour tortillas, with lettuce, tomato and cheese and opted to add avocado as well. Zapa offers a nicely-portioned taco and the flour tortillas (I loathe soft corn tortillas) were very good. Lots of carne asada for only two bucks per taco.

Although I found the flavor "pretty good", the carne asada was notably chewy - much more so than I'm used to in a good steak taco. Judging Zapa relative to its location, the Loop, you'd have to conclude that the food is great and the price cheap; judging Zapa's carne asada tacos in a vacuum leads me to conclude that it is reasonably-priced, mediocre Mexican food - like 1,000 other places in the City.

Bster

Interestingly, the Zapatacos being discussed is in the space recently vacated by Oasis Cafe, which has now returned to its original location.

As for the steak tacos, I think both posters are correct. The meat was chewy, but the flavor decent. It may be an average taco joint, no more, no less, but in the food vacuum that is the east loop, this is a nice addition.

Jonah

I love the Zacatacos location on 59th and Pulaski--still perhaps my favorite steak taco in the city, although there is some variation in their product. However, I find myself just as often getting the potato tacos instead. They're deep-fried with an unctuous, mashed potato filling. A wonderful textural contrast. If the Loop location's papa tacos are similar to the Pulaski location's, it's definitely worth trying.