Carneceria La Rosita Wheeling [Taqueria]

I've shopped at Carneceria La Rosita at Wolf and Camp MacDonald a few times, but never really loved the place: Their fresh produce is often limp, which is a turn-off for shopping. Their dry goods selection (such as dried chiles), meat and dairy selections are better... but I stopped in the other day for some cebollitas, and noticed they'd added a torno for Tacos Al Pastor.

So today I stopped back, had two al pastor and a cecina, for comparison to my local fave Monica's.

At 12:15 on a Saturday, I got the last Al Pastor tacos of the day. As you can see in the photo taken while I was in line, they were already down to a nub on the torno. They do griddle it up, but there is substantial nice char on the spit. Traditional onions and cilantro on a nicely griddled pair of tortillas, it's a good pastor, better than Monica's, which is more of an adobado, as it's a little saucy. The cecina is definitely better at Monica's, as La Rosita's meat was a little tough, and Monica serves it with a shmear of guacamole.

Only one salsa: an orange-colored smooth sauce that may be based on chiles de arbol.


Exterior


Waiting in line, that torno is getting awfully thin


Score!

Carneceria La Rosita
1902 S Wolf Road
Wheeling, IL
847.465.9910
http://www.carniceriaslarosita.com/static/index.html

When in the area we stop at the one in Mount Prospect for Lengua tacos, excellent and the amount of filling is almost double any other place.
I found the place by noting all the landscaping trucks at lunchtime!-Dick

JoelF wrote:I've shopped at Carneceria La Rosita at Wolf and Camp MacDonald a few times, but never really loved the place.

Carneceria La Rosita
1902 S Wolf Road
Wheeling, IL
847.465.9910

agreed, I've never been impressed with the store.

However tonight I was able to try the al pastor, I was very pleased. Ate at the counter in front of the grill, noticed the al pastor was by far the most frequently asked for item followed by lengua. I'll be back for sure.

We went to Mitsuwa for one of thier Festival Days today and as usual stopped at the La Rosita location locally.
Not very busy around 11am and nothing on the spit but the Lengua tacos were excellent as usual and my wife enjoyed the Pollo. Again the amount of filling simply dwarfs any other Tacqueria I have eaten at.-Dick

Too many onions!

sandman wrote:Too many onions!

are you stating this from the photo or your experience? Onions are a requested topping so an easy option to eliminate/reduce.

Agree with Sweet Willie!
In fact, every time time I order Lengua Tacos, I am asked if I want onions and chilantro.-Dick