Mariscos on Pulaski

I've been driving Pulaski between the Stevenson and 87 street lately and looking at the different mariscos places. I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation of where to eat. Following ReneG's advice I just had some amazing food at Mariscos Sinaola in Los Angeles and was hoping to find someplace really good here.

mbh wrote:I've been driving Pulaski between the Stevenson and 87 street lately and looking at the different mariscos places. I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation of where to eat. Following ReneG's advice I just had some amazing food at Mariscos Sinaola in Los Angeles and was hoping to find someplace really good here.

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed Mariscos Sinaloa. That was a bright spot in our mostly disappointing fish taco quest in San Diego and Los Angeles. We found plenty of great food but good fish tacos pretty much eluded us.

As you noticed, Pulaski Road between 47th and 83rd has become Chicago's mariscos corridor. There are plenty of other places on the southwest side (and elsewhere) but this stretch probably has the highest concentration. Many are quite new so I'm afraid I don't have a lot of detailed information. Here are a few comments, going from north to south.

Mariscos El Farallón (4712 S Pulaski) has been in business a couple years. The interior, inherited from its predecessor Las Morelianas (where I ate), is quite stylish and pleasant. I stopped in a year ago to look at the menu and talk with the owner. I've been meaning to return for a meal but haven't gotten around to it.

Hacienda del Sol (5315 S Pulaski), the coffee shop of a somewhat seedy motel, closed a couple years ago.

Las Islas Marias (5401 S Pulaski) started the mariscos trend on Pulaski over five years ago. I think this branch compares very favorably with the others in Chicago. There's a fair amount of information about this small chain to be found on this forum.

Shark (6430 S Pulaski), the Peruvian seafood specialist, has gone out of business. Its old space is now occupied by Las Picosas, a torta ahogado place that moved a few doors north.

El Veneno (6651 S Pulaski) has been around a few years but no one has reported on the food. Another El Veneno recently opened on the north side and that promptly received numerous comments. Interestingly, yet another El Veneno has just opened about a block south of the original. It's run by the same people and they intend to keep both restaurants open.

Las Islas de Nayarit (8201 S Pulaski) is another very new restaurant, presumably hoping to lure some of the Las Islas Marias crowd into this longtime Salisbury-steak-and-canned-corn family restaurant.

From what I've seen, I don't think any of these Pulaski restaurants are directly comparable to Mariscos Sinaloa, which is more of a taqueria. Still, they ought to be worth exploring.

That stretch of Pulaski holds some great non-fish Mexican places. Pastel! (4814 S Pulaski) might be the best Mexican bakery in Chicago. You won't find better birria around here than at Birrieria Zaragoza (4852 S Pulaski). Some of the city's better tacos de carne asada can be had at Zacatacos (5925 S Pulaski & 3949 W 71st; lots of posts). Birrieria De La Torre (6724 S Pulaski) is worth a stop, not so much for birria, but for a very fine version of carne en su jugo.

Getting back to the ocean, don't forget Langosta Roja (5201 S Pulaski), a well-regarded seafood specialist.

On another quest for the elusive fish taco, I ran across Hombre de Acero's post on Mi Abuelo y Yo.

The Dude and I checked it out recently, and although it wasn't the Tacos del Pacifico fish taco of my dreams, I will say we had some very excellent, zesty seafood cocteles. We plan to go back soon to try more on the menu. (Thanks for the rec, Hombre!) It's not in the exact area you're asking about, but it's close enough.

El Abuelo y Yo ["My Grandfather & I"]
3752 S. Kedzie Avenue
Chicago,ILL.60632

Thanks for the information Rene. I'm planning to be out that way on Sunday with a friend and we'll definitely stop by the bakery, Zacatocos which I love and I think we'll try El Veneno, this time. I've been reading the thread on the north side branch and it seems really interesting. I'll let you know what I think and thank you both for the suggestions.

The El Veneno on Ashland has been my favorite mariscos place in the city for some time. Don't shoot me, but i even like it significantly more than las islas marias.

Being a huge fan of the Ashland location, I was wondering if you, or anyone has given the one on pulaski a try and how it compares (assuming you've tried the one on Ashland.) I've been meaning to make a trip out ther sometime, especially considering that the Ashland location does not do the huachinango zarandeado, while the Pulaski location does. I still plan on going out there soon, but i'd like to know any differences before i go. I'll gladly report back as well once i make the trip.

I'm planning on setting up a Nayarit style LTH dinner for Feb. 9th, to be posted as soon as i find a place. My goal is to find a Nayarit Seafood restaurant that cooks over real charcoal, I really love the zarandeado style of cooking fish. I'm having no luck calling around asking restaurants about it. If anyone here knows of a restaurant who does grill their seafood, that would be a great help! Thanks!

laikom wrote:I'm planning on setting up a Nayarit style LTH dinner for Feb. 9th, to be posted as soon as i find a place. My goal is to find a Nayarit Seafood restaurant that cooks over real charcoal, I really love the zarandeado style of cooking fish. I'm having no luck calling around asking restaurants about it. If anyone here knows of a restaurant who does grill their seafood, that would be a great help! Thanks!

I have yet to find a place in Chicagoland that cooks Nayarit style over live charcoal, but there is one brand new Nayarit style seafood place I spotted the last time I went to La Chapparita. It had just opened and is on the NW corner of 26th and Whipple. I took note that it was there, but have not yet had the time to return and investigate. You might want to give that a shot. In fact, if you're interested in an exploritiry visit, I'd be happy to go with you.

stevez wrote:

laikom wrote:I'm planning on setting up a Nayarit style LTH dinner for Feb. 9th, to be posted as soon as i find a place. My goal is to find a Nayarit Seafood restaurant that cooks over real charcoal, I really love the zarandeado style of cooking fish. I'm having no luck calling around asking restaurants about it. If anyone here knows of a restaurant who does grill their seafood, that would be a great help! Thanks!

I have yet to find a place in Chicagoland that cooks Nayarit style over live charcoal, but there is one brand new Nayarit style seafood place I spotted the last time I went to La Chapparita. It had just opened and is on the NW corner of 26th and Whipple. I took note that it was there, but have not yet had the time to return and investigate. You might want to give that a shot. In fact, if you're interested in an exploritiry visit, I'd be happy to go with you.

There are so many mariscos places, mostly on the southwest side. The (now out of date) Pulaski list I posted above is only the tip of the iceberg. I have no idea if any cook over charcoal and probably many aren't very good but there's an awful lot out there to explore.

When it was still new, many years ago, the 1st outpost of LIM on Grand did indeed cook pescado sarandeado on live coals. Been years, so no idea now.

JeffB wrote:When it was still new, many years ago, the 1st outpost of LIM on Grand did indeed cook pescado sarandeado on live coals. Been years, so no idea now.

I seem to remember that, too, but for at least the last five years, they have used a gas grill.

After calling about 5 mariscos restaurants I've had no luck finding one with a charcoal grill. I need some buttery seafood to tide me over to continue my search. Anyone care to join me at the Ukrainian Village Veneno location to discuss our options? I've posted on the events board.