Flaco's Tacos

The line at the new State & Wabash Chick-Fil-A was beyond what I was willing to experience, so I went east on Chicago Avenue for inspiration. I thought about Jimmy John’s because DKobelsky’s mention of it in Best Vegetarian Bites, but Flaco’s Tacos sounded better. I got one steak taco and one tamal oaxaqueno. I requested only onions and cilantro on the taco. I have to say that both were better than I expected. I thought the steak had good flavor and the onion/cilantro balance was good. The tamal had good flavor, but was dry. I would have preferred some dark meat chicken rather than all white meat. The dryness was helped with some of the green tomatillo salsa. My order cost me just over $5, which is pretty good for a lunch in the Gold Coast.

Flaco’s Tacos has been mentioned in a few threads, mostly positively:
Best Fish Tacos
Worst Thing You’ve Eaten Lately
Taco Grill and Salsa Bar: Al Pastor

It’s not earth-shattering cuisine, but it’s not half bad. I’ll try the fish tacos next time.

Flaco’s Tacos
46 E. Chicago, Ave
Chicago, IL
312-266-8226

725 S. Dearborn
Chicago, IL
312-922-8226
http://www.flacostacosonline.com

The funniest thing about Flaco's Tacos on Chicago Ave. is that they have a pastry case with a few kinds of cupcakes and maybe small tarts and some other baked goods. They also sell the biggest rice krispie treats I've ever seen; each of them were like 1/4 pan size. I didn't try any sweets, but the sight of them was more noteworthy than the burrito I did eat.

Between the extra flash mob police and the Chick-Fil-A crowds, that stretch of Chicago feels kind of like Times Square now.

h_s-

I did notice the sweets. They have a few different layer cakes as well. I was focused on the savory part of the menu, but might try a sweet from them another time.

That is a crazy stretch from State to Michigan.

-Mary

Flaco's is the Hackney's of Mexican food (mostly because it's a Hackney's operation). They do it better than Chipotle, but not by a wide margin (and I don't dislike Chipotle).

good fish tacos. awful al pastor and vegetarian tacos.

DKoblesky wrote:good fish tacos. awful al pastor and vegetarian tacos.

Their fish tacos are somewhat flavorless. I really want to like them because the Dearborn location is near my office and I would llove a reliable fish taco joint, but Flaco's is just fair.

A new Flaco's Tacos open somewhat recently in my hood, Edgewater, and I finally made it over there last night. While I always hope to enjoy/support the new local places, the food was average at best. I had three tacos: al pastor, lime beef, and fish/cabbage, none of which made an impression that I would want to eat them again. I actually spent the whole time wishing it was L'Patron that had opened up here.

However, they seemed to be doing decent business at the time, and I wish them well.

Very excited to have one up by me in Edgewater. I've been to the Gold Coast location a bunch of times and usually get the tamale + rice/beans. The drink specials are fantastic, but you're not going to get the best taco/quesadilla you've ever had. Can't wait to check it out!

I'll make sure to try the tamales next time. Also, Tuesdays has some type of special $1 tacos, so that might be cause enough to keep it in the rolodex.