Looking for a Las Asadas substitute in the far NW burbs

Anyone know of a place that does carne asada more or less exactly the way Las Asadas or La Pasadita does, way up out here? If I have to explain the question, then one probably can't help with an answer. Thanks.

I have found that the tacos at Las Cumbres in Crystal Lake are quite good across the board. While the steak may not quite be at the level of Asadas, it's pretty darned tasty.

TomInSkokie wrote:I have found that the tacos at Las Cumbres in Crystal Lake are quite good across the board. While the steak may not quite be at the level of Asadas, it's pretty darned tasty.

Las Cumbras.... never been there. Do they grill the steak over open flame?

I just looked at a bunch of very favorable Yelp reviews... and just a couple of bad ones. Unfortunately, the worst review came from a guy who directly compared Las Cumbres unfavorably to La Pasadita and similar La Palapita. Not looking too good.

If I used Yelp as the basis for my dining, I would be in a bad place.

TomInSkokie wrote:If I used Yelp as the basis for my dining, I would be in a bad place.

Okay! Does Las Cumbres grill over open flame?

The guy who turned me on to Las Asadas like 10 frickin years ago said there was a place in Elgin, by a casino, that had the name "oro" in it, that he claimed had fantastic steak - fire grilled. The place had the name "oro," not the casino. I know what you seek, I don't know any places, sorry. Just a suggestion, I know it's not much to go off of, but it's something. I'd ask the guy directly, and he would be happy to tell you, but he is no longer with us. So, it sounds like you are looking for fire grilled steak, and not just a taqueria. I get it, and I search that way as well. I have no idea in your area. I work with a feew other Asada lovers who live in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Cary, and Lake Zurich. I'll ping the crowd. We all worked in Mt Prospect together, and we were all hooked on Las Asadas in Des Plaines. We know what you are talking about. There's a member here who drives from far away to get to Las Asadas that might help, forgot their user name. I'd imagine Elgin, and Carpentersville might be a place to concentrate. The guy who is longer with us used to say there were large hispanic populations there, and he hung out in those two towns a bunch.

Sorry - this was all over the place, just throwing some random thoughts out there for you.

seebee wrote:The guy who turned me on to Las Asadas like 10 frickin years ago said there was a place in Elgin, by a casino, that had the name "oro" in it, that he claimed had fantastic steak - fire grilled.

Azteca de Oro was a really good Mexican place in Elgin, but it closed a couple of years ago.

Buhler? Buhler?

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

are there any places in your area that YOU'VE tried which you would recommend (or not recommend)?

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

LOL
FWIW, I asked around, and the one person I trust the most who lives in Algonquin, I think, gave an emphatic "no" to the question of "anything like Asadas' grilled steak that you know of?"

Sweet Willie wrote:

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

are there any places in your area that YOU'VE tried which you would recommend (or not recommend)?

As a Las Asadas sub? Nope.

seebee wrote:

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

LOL
FWIW, I asked around, and the one person I trust the most who lives in Algonquin, I think, gave an emphatic "no" to the question of "anything like Asadas' grilled steak that you know of?"

See? Other than the Asadas, Pasaditas, El Asadero, the Pasadas, and La Palipita (on a good day), there's zero out there.

It can't be that hard to duplicate the stuff.

adipocere wrote:

seebee wrote:

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

LOL
FWIW, I asked around, and the one person I trust the most who lives in Algonquin, I think, gave an emphatic "no" to the question of "anything like Asadas' grilled steak that you know of?"

See? Other than the Asadas, Pasaditas, El Asadero, the Pasadas, and La Palipita (on a good day), there's zero out there.

It can't be that hard to duplicate the stuff.

Funny that you come to that conclusion--I arrived at the exact opposite one--there are so few who do it well, they should be revered and treasured

adipocere wrote:

seebee wrote:

adipocere wrote:Buhler? Buhler?

LOL
FWIW, I asked around, and the one person I trust the most who lives in Algonquin, I think, gave an emphatic "no" to the question of "anything like Asadas' grilled steak that you know of?"

See? Other than the Asadas, Pasaditas, El Asadero, the Pasadas, and La Palipita (on a good day), there's zero out there.

It can't be that hard to duplicate the stuff.

Edit: I will state this- it must be difficult to "Asada-ize" a taqueria, or many would be doing it. I spoke to a local taqueria owner/manager (Tacos El Norte, in Lake In The Hills) about this years ago. He is familiar with the Pasadita types. He told me it was a matter of extra cost involved with the equipment and using direct gas flame- and one needed to have a steady flow of customers to justify the expense including the proper carne asada.

I've heard something similar about the $$. A long while ago, I asked a friend who has owned several joints. He told me those flame grills run about 10k per foot. No idea if that's accurate still.

Also, there are other joints in the city and burbs that do flame grill, I just don't know of any in the Northwest burbs. I haven't seen the Las Asadas owner in quite a while, but if I do ever run into him again, my plan for a while now was to ask him if he's ever thought about going further north than Des Plaines.

seebee wrote:I've heard something similar about the $$. A long while ago, I asked a friend who has owned several joints. He told me those flame grills run about 10k per foot. No idea if that's accurate still.

Also, there are other joints in the city and burbs that do flame grill, I just don't know of any in the Northwest burbs. I haven't seen the Las Asadas owner in quite a while, but if I do ever run into him again, my plan for a while now was to ask him if he's ever thought about going further north than Des Plaines.

I've talked to him also. Mostly adding locations is problematic due to hiring issues. He told me once that finding good employees at minimum wage was a problem. No, duh?

Alright, if we're gonna be deprived in the NW 'burbs, how about the far western burbs? Say west of Itasca?

TomInSkokie wrote:If I used Yelp as the basis for my dining, I would be in a bad place.

So True!!!

Before you ride off to the western suburbs, you really should give Las Cumbres in Crystal Lake a try. The food is great, the family that owns it are so nice. We eat there very often, and it is the only mexican restaurant out this way that we like. And we've tried them all, I swear