are you sure you're not confusing the old (corner) location which they abandoned last year for their current location? i drove by TP many times, assuming they'd gone out of business, before noticing they had just moved half a block east. justjoan

no. I drive by it every day on my way to work.

I didn't even know there was an old location.

Here's the latest:

The sign now reads CEMITAS PUEBLA both on the awning and on the hanging sign.

Just returned from Cemitas Puebla. I had the cemita de milanesa - needless to say, I'll be back. The guy who took my order was very friendly and told me that the the food in Puebla had a Lebanese influence and that I need to try the arabes next time.

I can confirm that only the name has changed -- everything else is the same and the cemitas are as good as ever.

And there were actually other people there for once.

We took a trip to Cemitas Puebla today. Before going I had the same question another poster did above -- what kind of breaded meat is in those yummy photos? ITS PORK!!!

MJNs New City article was a great help. There was also a reference to the milanesa meat being pork on a thread on Breaded Steak Sandwiches. I am less enthused about breaded steak sandwiches than breaded pork sandwiches. If it were clear we were talking about PORK I would have tried this place much sooner!

So to just to be clear, and maybe to send a few people running that way, here's a quotable quote from the MJN article that got us moving:

"The Milaneza version is a sesame-crusted bun filled with a thin breaded pork chop, papalo--a leafy green similar to cilantro but with a much bigger herby bouquet--smoky chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and a mozzarella-like string cheese, queso Oaxaca."

This was the best Mexican attempt at a sandwich I've had. The roll nicely complemented the rich fillings. Loved the toasted sesame on top. Our sandwich also came with creamy avocado. The chipotle was sublime.
I am open to trying another variant next time (folks seem to be mentioning the carne asada and al pastor), but this was a real winner and will be hard not to get again and again...

Unfortunately this April was a bit cool, so even though the papalo seeds have been planted, the greens are not ready yet (perhaps in a couple weeks). (From the GNR photo, I can reference that this update came from Tony himself. He was a wonderful host.). This makes a great excuse to return fairly soon so we can try those lauded herbs!

We also got Tacos Arabes. Again, what meat is this? PORK! and it was moist and smoky from the Chipotle sauce, with nice pieces of crusty char from being cooked on a spit. Served with lovely carmelized onions. Superb. And yes, very reminscent of good lamb schwarma as noted by others including in the article noted above.

Additional red, green and chipotle salsas are available on the table (although nothing I had needed more sauce or spice!) If they had chips I could have finished the whole container of chipotle before leaving...

A well deserved GNR.

After seeing the pictures in this post while contemplating where to go for dinner last night, my mind was made up. We drove over there as fast as we could and ordered the chalupas, a taco arabes, and two cemitas milaneses.

To put it simply, we will be back. Soon. I'm already fantasizing about my next taste of the cemita. I only wish this place was closer to my apartment, as its distance will make it difficult for me to eat there as often as I'd like.

The streak continues. Perfect tacos arabes - a notch up from every al pastor I've tasted in the city - and complex, chewy, smoky cemita de milanesa with tender (pork) steak and piquant table salsas. I particularly like the chipotle paste in the "mustard" bottle.

Notes: wide open on Mondays, they don't close until 9 PM and traffic was very light during our 6:30 PM visit. They still do not take credit cards.

Puebla has been closed before 5 PM on several recent weeknight attempts to visit - there is a very terse sign mentioning renovation. Anyone have the inside scoop?

We were there last monday for dinner and it was open and there were no signs up or anything.

It was, however, incredibly hot in there. Maybe they're getting some A/C installed

I am out of town now and thinking I'd like to get this for takeout dinner when I come back Sunday evening. How late are they open, if at all, on Sundays?

Holy sh*t! Made my first trip here today and was absolutely blown away by what we ate. It was a truly amazing experience . . .


Cemitas Puebla in Humboldt Park



Menu



Mexican Coca-Cola



Chalupas



Chalupa Rojo



Chalupa Verde



Section of a Cemita de Carne Enchilada



Section of a Cemita Milanesa

Not pictured are the fantastic tacos arabes. I was just too busy shoving them in my mouth to get the shot

=R=

Cemitas Puebla
3619 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
773 772-8435

I should note that CP has expanded their menu a bit. Quite a few more antojitos and platillos, and one new cemita: the "cemita atomica", which I think the waitress said was carne enchilada, jamon, and milanesa, piled high. Sounds like quite something.

I love this place so much.

edit: just noticed that the menu photo ronnie posted mentions it.

gleam wrote:I should note that CP has expanded their menu a bit. Quite a few more antojitos and platillos, and one new cemita: the "cemita atomica", which I think the waitress said was carne enchilada, jamon, and milanesa, piled high. Sounds like quite something.

It sounds like the Goblin Cockof the cemita world.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Not pictured are the fantastic tacos arabes. I was just too busy shoving them in my mouth to get the shot

Ron,

Not unlike Khan on Tuesday Taqueria Puebla really popped at Thursdays lunch.

Taco Arabe



Second Taco Arabe picture is not out focus* rising steam is slightly diffusing the picture.

Enjoy,
Gary

*Not that my pictures aren't often out of focus.

Closed for remodeling today and tomorrow as I unfortunately learned from the sign on the door.

Because I am such a great husband , I took my wife to Cemitas Puebla for lunch yesterday. It was her first time there and she was suitably impressed.

I thought that everything we ate was as good or better than my last trip, with the exception of the chalupas, which were a bit soft and, as such, lacked a bit of the luster they possessed last time. Still, the rest of our meal, cemita milanesa, cemita atomica and tacos arabes were all sensational. Below is a picture of the atomica, which is actually a combination of milanesa, enchilada and jamon. It's served in the typical Cemitas Puebla style with a mash of smoky chipotle peppers and shredded Oaxacan cheese which, I learned is actually imported from Mexico . . .


Cemita Atomica from Cemitas Puebla

This is such a great, go-to place. I was thrilled watch my wife's reaction to eating this food for the first time -- the bold flavors and satisfying textures. I absolutely love Cemitas Puebla and really need to get there more often.

=R=

thank god for LTH or i'd've never found this little gem of a place. the pics of the chalupas, tacos and cemita's were too much to pass up, plus i live in E HP, so not too far a drive. Went there for lunch today and ordered the chalupas and the chorizo tacos and they were outstanding. I will be back, again and again. We're grilling bone in ribeyes on the grill tonight so I didn't want to get stuffed and passed on the Cimeta...next time, next time:) !

Hey Cemita fans! I just found out from Tony the owner at Taqueria Puebla that Diners, Dives, and Drive Ins is coming to town on Monday, July 7th (filming all day pretty much) and on Wednesday, July 9th from noon-1pm [/color] filming. I mentioned to Tony that I heard of his place from LTH and he asked if I could spread the word to the LTH fans. Needless to say the Taco Arabes were so tasty and the Cemita Milanesa is amazing....just like the ones I had in Puebla last summer! Thanks for recommendation LTH! I love this place!

Oh my...

Thank you LTH for turning me onto the best sandwich this side of Manny's in Chicago.

3 Cemitas and 3 sugar-cane Cokes later, we're all still sitting here in wonderment at the deliciousness that is the Cemita.

The pork in the Milenasa was tender, light and crisp, the Carne Asada was perfect beefy-goodness, juicy and cooked with a loving hand, and the Atomica was one of the most delectable, multi-meat concoctions any of us had ever tasted.

How did I live without these? One friend is going back for a second on his way home, he's decided he can't function properly until he has another. I'm definitely adding this to my "places to take out of towners," my "I don't feel like cooking tonight," and my "just because I can't stop thinking about it" rotations.

Just checked out Cemitas de Puebla yesterday with Mrs.Trpt. She had the milanesa, I had the jamon. Both delicious,so I add my voice to the chorus. It's a bit of a schlep for me so I don't know how often I'll get there, but definitely worth a stop when in the 'hood.

After tacos from El Asadero Friday it's been an LTH weekend.

Surprise! The Cemitas de Puebla segment filmed a couple of months ago for "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" appeared just a few minutes ago, so keep an eye out for re-runs - the show name referenced sandwiches, and also featured an offbeat burger place in San Diego ("Crazy Burger") and a Philly cheesesteak place - in Salt Lake City ("Moochies," IIRC). Check the Food Network site for schedule info.

Great presentation - and an interesting recipe for homemade chilpotles en adobo that I'd like to purloin ASAP. And I want a Taco Arabe now!

sundevilpeg wrote:Surprise! The Cemitas de Puebla segment filmed a couple of months ago for "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" appeared just a few minutes ago, so keep an eye out for re-runs - the show name referenced sandwiches, and also featured an offbeat burger place in San Diego ("Crazy Burger") and a Philly cheesesteak place - in Salt Lake City ("Moochies," IIRC). Check the Food Network site for schedule info.

The episode is "Grabbin' a Sandwich" and according to TiVo Online, it next airs:

10/24 8 pm
10/24 11 pm
10/26 2 pm

I was hoping to catch all the Chicago visits in one shot, as I don't regularly watch this show...

germuska wrote:I was hoping to catch all the Chicago visits in one shot, as I don't regularly watch this show...

Yeah, they don't do it that way. Each episode has a theme and it's comprised of three visits to places in different cities.

FYI...

Perhaps spurred on by the DD&D feature, it looks like Cemitas Puebla has a new website, which features, among other things, its GNR.

Looks like a trip to CP is in order to beat the madding crowd, maybe tonight. Does anyone know if they're BYOB? Extra points for nearby liquor store recommendations. That includes specific libational suggestions.

I just went to Cemitas Puebla on Wednesday and got to eat one of their last cemitas of the day! Even with them being super busy the staff was great, Tony was there cooking away, and my cemita was AWESOME! My friends and I brought a bottle of wine with us and didn't have any issues. There's a liquor store across the street called Eddies--very convenient. I'm going tonight for another Cemita and some taco arabes...yum!

Dmnkly wrote:FYI...

Perhaps spurred on by the DD&D feature, it looks like Cemitas Puebla has a new website, which features, among other things, its GNR.

Not only that, but the entire DD&D segment is on the front page. Looks like it is embedded through Youtube, so the Food Network might put a stop to it. For now though, you don't have to wait for your Tivo to catch the show.

Cemita wrote:Even with them being super busy...

I'm so glad to hear this. During each of my last 3 visits to CP, my party was the only one in the place. They deserve the boost.

Cemita wrote:There's a liquor store across the street called Eddies--very convenient. I'm going tonight for another Cemita and some taco arabes...yum!

Thanks for the intel Cemita. Made my first stab at a cemita tonight and arrived shortly after 8 pm. I had a St. Pauli tallboy in tow from Eddies. Unfortunately, the grate was pulled across the door. Answering my query, the counterman said that they were closing an hour early because it had been 'crazy.' He then plugged the DD&D bit (it was kinda non sequitur). I was a bit miffed since it took over an hour via train then bus to get there. Moral of the story: call ahead?

I took my tallboy across the street to El Vigia. It was my first taste of Puerto Rican cuisine of which I am enirely ignorant. I was tempted to order the craziest, most off-the-wall thing in the spirit of LTH but that turned out to be a boiled pig's feet dish which I just couldn't countenance at the moment. Got a pork chop mixta instead which turned out to be butt steak. The puerto rican rice side was studded wth pigeon peas lending a smoky depth and delicious. The main event...not so much. The butt steak slice had been deep-fried to within an inch of its life. They had some interesting items under a heat lamp in the front that customers could help themselves to, including plaintain and potato croquettes stuffed with ground meat and fried chicken leg quarters. Everything was $1.50 each. I had some chicken which I proceeded to douse with tableside vinegar. I would have been content to make a meal solely out of the prepared items. Next time...

Last Saturday I was on a lunch mission and decided to head west on North Ave with Jimmy's on my mind. I passed Cemitas Puebla and realized I had not been for quite some time so I put it in my memory bank for this weekend. I think seeing it on DD&D a few days ago was a sign.

Not much else to add other than it was even better than I remember it. It is really hard to top Taco Arabes and a Milanesa Cemita. That smokey sweetness from the chipotles is an addictive flavor.

Between Cemitas Puebla, Jimmy's and Brown Sack, I don't think I ever have to leave my immediate area for lunch.

At 12:45pm most tables were full, but my to go order only took a few minutes.

Jamie