There is a char grilled chicken restaurant ..a dive...El Pollo Vagabundo... On Grand Avenue in Northlake. It is in an area where there are a lot of cheap apartments and it is predominantly Mexican. The strip mall has a store that sells quincineria dresses. I noticed that a friend of mine who has a restaurant had listed this restaurant as a Like..which made me curious...He has very good taste so I was a little surprised, given that the place looks like a dump.
I went this weekend and I was shocked. The food was exceptional..maybe the best Mexican food I have had in the Chicagoland area. They have a salsa bar..and there is a woman who makes homemade tortillas all day. The place is not the most attractive...basically feels like you are eating in someones storeroom...there are boxes lined up everywhere. The place is clean ...it is just small and had a lot of stuff.
I had the steak quesadilla and the guacamole. Both were the best I ever had. I went back during the week around lunchtime..and there was a line going out the door into the parking lot.. There are only like 2-4 people working there... husband and wife and some other relative I think... It seems they are getting popular. People didn't mine waiting 20 minutes for their food.
This is now my favorite Mexican restaurant. If you don't mind Spartan surroundings.then this place is for you.