Have lurked on this board for years and this topic has compelled me to post...

The shrimp tacos at Mercadito (108 w kinzie) rank as my favorite bite of food in Chicago.

I'm not going to lie, I dont want to share the info I'm about to on a family I believe offers some of the city's Top Taco's. Garcia family matriarch Froylan Garcia immigrated to Chicago from San Luis Potosi Mexico. He did what most folks do coming to America looking for jobs and found work in factories and other odd jobs. As the years went on he started investing in real estate around the Pilsen area and now owns a liquor store on Halsted and a corner grocery store called La Favorita #2 in Pilsen. His family is also behind one of my new favorite casual spots for eat and drink called Del Toro which is also on Halsted in Pilsen.


At the corner of 19th and May street in Pilsen

Well the reason I said I didn't want to share is because this is a Saturday and Sunday only operation as far as the tacos go. It also happens to be a "make your own tacos" type of place as you pay for the meat by the pound and buy whichever are your preferred tortillas. Complimentary bags of chopped onions with cilantro and lime as well as salsa verde sits on top of the meat counter.


The butcher shop in back of the store

The star of the show here are their cachete aka beef cheek barbacoa tacos. Again you have to make these on your own, they just supply you with everything you need. At $5.99/lb you can easily get six tacos assuming you use two tortillas to hold each together. So its a great deal.


One of my favorite weekend breakfasts in the city

Why do I eat this for breakfast you ask? Well as I said before the barbacoa is only available on weekends and its usually ready around 7a maybe 8a and gone by 11a at the latest. But rarely will it make it past that. Rosa Garcia has been making her specialty for the last thirty-six years and 600 pounds of it goes quick as her legend has grown. Very little is done as far as seasoning goes. The cheeks are just salted and then placed in a big old simmering pot with garlic and they cook until fall apart tender. The recipe comes from Rosa's husbands father who hails from San Luis Potosi.


Top Taco: Beef Cheek Barbacoa

Oh man that picture is already getting me excited to head over before kickoff this NFL Sunday which has become a tradition of mine the last couple years. If you do go and dont get there on time for the barbacoa, the carnitas are excellent as well. It's never an awful thing when I go and theres no beef left but still some pig. Make sure to ask for some of the ribs. So good.


Carnitas Tacos

It doesn't end there though. If you do go to the grocery store make sure to pick up some of their homemade Mexican chorizo which seems to have alot less grease than most of the brands you find at places like Tony's. It's also got some heavy doses of garlic up in it. I'm actually going to use some of it this week to mix in with skirt steak and make tacos out of. Also as mentioned the family owns Del Toro which I profiled HERE. I think their puerco adobada tacos aka pork marinated in adobo chile paste are just great. They might not be made with the ever trendy pork belly ala Big Star but these are just as good in their own right. Big ups to the Garcia family for putting out some of the city's top tacos.


Puerco Adobada Taco from Del Toro

La Favorita #2
1925 South May Street
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 666-8222

Del Toro
2133 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 733-7144

Da Beef-

Those pictures are absolutely drool-worthy. I'm not a bit hungry after a multi-course meal, but I wanted to eat one of those tacos. Thanks for posting.

I'm going to go ahead and name the breakfast tacos at Estrella Negra the best of their variety in the city. Sure, they may be the only version but they're good and cheap. You could bring your own Bloody Mary mixers to this cute little BYOB on Fullerton just east of Western and get crunk for $6 while eating these. They offer the option of bacon or chorizo. I hear the breakfast burritos are good too.


Breakfast Tacos found in Chicago

Estrella Negra
2346 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 227-5993

Since this thread was revived - did Nav Man ever name Top Taco? - I am going to name my best taco (or taqueria):

Los Barrilitos - easily the best tacos I've had here (~6 mo). These are close to the al pastor from my favorite taco truck which has the best tacos this side of the border IMO - Tacos Leo. LB's asada and chorizo are both excellent as well. I think they're cheaper than most others too.
Hon. mention to Manolo's at Maxwell Market - the asada is right off the grill with great char, beefy flavor and juicy. Very good al pastor too. The grilled onions and jalapenos are the kicker.

mdpilam wrote:Since this thread was revived - did Nav Man ever name Top Taco?

Las Asadas Western/McLean

He edited his original post.

El Mezquite in Pilsen

If you ever see this taquero slanging different cow parts outside on a comal de acero you should stop and try one. The barbacoa was outstanding and the complimentary red onion and carrot relish really takes it up another level. I believe it's a weekend thing while it's warm. I'm sure you can get them at other times but this guy has a hell of a hand.


Barbacoa Tacos on 18th Street

Taqueria El Mezquite
1756 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 733-0402

They sell a dubious tepache as well.

Taco Alambre (Steak, Al Pastor, Chorizo, Bacon, Chopped Wieners, Bell Peppers, Onions and Melted Cheese) from Taqueria Toluca in Waukegan.

^ that shit cray

Jefe wrote:^ that shit cray

Perhaps you'll find the Chilango offering off the Taco de Canasta selections at La Chilangueada a little less intimidating. Served with chopped carne asada and diced hot dogs it comes in a much smaller one bite tortilla, made on site. I like.

La Chilangueada
5131 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 237-6638

Da Beef wrote:

Jefe wrote:^ that shit cray

Perhaps you'll find the Chilango offering off the Taco de Canasta selections at La Chilangueada a little less intimidating. Served with chopped carne asada and diced hot dogs it comes in a much smaller one bite tortilla, made on site. I like.

La Chilangueada
5131 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 237-6638

This would make an excellent one two punch with the truly excellent Somthin' Sweet Doughnuts. In fact, if the snow dies down by lunch time, I may just do this today.

Somethin' Sweet Donuts
5112 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 237-7588

'Tacos al estilo Zacatecas' from Memo's Tacos

Ask a handful of people that live in Chicago what their favorite taco is and you'll get an answer or two for the panza (porkbelly) offering at Big Star. I wont ride them too hard as its a pretty good taco when on-point, problem is theres times its been nothing but fat and then theres the fact they cost $4 each. Well I got a new spot for my panza taco fix. The Big State opened at Ashland and Erie a few months ago and I stopped in to try a taco, not bad but not great, I figured they needed some time. A week ago I tried again and went with the panza and was rewarded with one of the best tacos I've ate all year, sure its early but you don't eat tacos like I do aka at least every other day. Perfectly rendered belly was spiced similar to those at Big Star and topped the same with onion, cilantro and cheese too. Homemade tortilla? Check, new on my return trip these were nice and thick and in my mind better than those at Big Star. Price? $2.17 which feels like robbery. The name may be a little bit misleading as they claim to serve Texas style Mexican though there is no fajita taco, breakfast taco etc but they do serve some damn fine food. I've seen quite a few regional Mexican specials on my last two visits and the signature hot dog is pretty good too though it has a little too much bun for my liking. Fish tacos are also top notch. Full report coming soon.


Panza Taco

The Big State
624 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 340-7037

Is that cotija on there or what?