Taquerias de Waukegan [Project LTH]

Taquerias:

El Caporal
622 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-336-9329

Golosinas el Encanto
1115 Washington
Waukegan, IL 60085
847/625-5103

Tacos Bueno
1000 Belvidere Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
Tel: 847/599-9622

Tacos El Norte In Waukegan
2663 Grand Ave
Waukegan, IL 60085

Tacos El Rey de Oro
1605 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-599-0600

Taqueria El Con Conchal
1020 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-2852

Taqueria El Paraiso
14 North McAree Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-3138

Taqueria Guerrero
205 W Water St
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-9051

Taqueria Guerrero
2243 N Lewis Ave
Waukegan, IL 60087
847-244-9088

Taqueria Los Comales
635 N Mcaree Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-5203

Taqueria Toluca
822 10th St
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-7851

Taqueria Toluca
1914 W. Washington St.
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-249-5166
This place I has an el Pasteur cone.

Perhaps, maybe or at least worth picking up the menu:

Antogitos Natalie Restaurant
926 10th Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-263-4899

Antojitos Tonatico
1102 Glen Rock Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-625-9561

Casa Bonita Restaurant
1516 Belvidere St
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-336-2880
Fax: 847-336-8226

Casa de Cambio Latinos
1550 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-625-9316, 847-625-9373

D'Bora2
2301 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-775-1198

El Dorado
1127 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-599-2000

El Famous Burrito
3210 Belvidere Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-782-1877

El Ranchito Michoacano Rest
1310 North Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
http://www.elranchitomich.com
847-623-6936
Fax: 847-623-8718

El Tapatio - CLOSED
1801 Belvidere Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-662-3747

La Casa Del Samuel
120 North Genesee Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-782-8700

La Huitzuquena
318 Belvidere Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
Tel: 847/599-3130

La Luz
2118 N Green Bay Rd
Waukegan, IL 60087
847-599-6103

LA Rosita
2613 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-249-8012

Las Lomas Restaurant Inc
442 N Green Bay Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-3550

Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant
1614 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-406-4497
Fax: 847-406-4497

Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant
3935 52nd
Kenosha, WI
Tel: 262/564-0031

Ofelia's Azteca Restaurant
1419 Washington Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-249-5166

Pepe's Mexican Restaurants
760 North Green Bay Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
http://www.pepesmexican.com
847-244-7887

Pollo Rico
2227 Belvidere Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-336-6981

Pupuseria El Guanaco
916 Glenwood Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-599-1285
ok, not a taqueria ... but quite good.

Restaurant Chapala
2211 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-336-6050

San Luis Mexican Restaurant
50 South Green Bay Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-3636

People are welcome to outline their experiences with any of the above. If you are interested in a joint crawl, then PM me to arrange a date.

[This post will be updated as I find new places]

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Taquerias:

Regards,

Cathy: Do you have any favorites? Thanks
Elie

Cathy, in the event a joint crawl takes place, I'll join. Family lives in Waukegan and I've eaten at a few places mentioned including:

Tacos El Norte In Waukegan
2663 Grand Ave
Waukegan, IL 60085
* My personal fave, even if its a chain. Service is quick and friendly. Food is good and fresh and I always leave with leftovers!

Taqueria El Paraiso
14 North McAree Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-3138
* This is great late night eats

El Famous Burrito
3210 Belvidere Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-782-1877
* Chain, but pretty good and affordable

El Ranchito Michoacano Rest
1310 North Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
* They have great seafood

Pepe's Mexican Restaurants
760 North Green Bay Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
http://www.pepesmexican.com
847-244-7887
* Chain... not all that great and a little overpriced.

San Luis Mexican Restaurant
50 South Green Bay Road
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-244-3636
* They have a good lunch buffet and some nightly entertainment

Hi ett094,

Until this evening, I have only been to three Mexican restaurants in Waukegan: Tacos el Norte, La Casa Del Samuel and El Ranchito Michoacano Restaurant. Tacos el Norte could be considered my current favorite because it has been visited a number of times.

This evening I drove up to Waukegan with my Mom for two reasons: 1) Dine at a taqueria and 2) Scan Washington St. and Belvidere Road for any places closed or missed in my list, which has been updated.

Our inaugural meal for the taqueria project was at El Caporal, where I ordered tacos of fish, carne asada, barbacoa, cabeza, chorizo, el Pastor and carne asada. Apparently there was a miscommunication because we received only four of the seven tacos.

Clockwise from the top: Fish Taco, Cabeza (cow's head) taco, Barbacoa taco and El Pastor taco


The fish taco was entirely eaten by my Mom who thought it was quite good and just a bit spicey. The el Pastor was pretty mushy. The kitchen was out of sight, though it was clear from our sample there is no meat cone. Unfortunately they didn't do very well on the griddle with it either. The barbacoa and cabeza preparations were very similar in that each had been braised for an extended period of time. They were cooked adequately though I thought the seasoning was a bit flat.

This is a small restaurant with just about every table occupied by groups of men. The only women in the place besides ourselves was the waitress. All other women who arrived during our visit took their food out. They do have a liquor license and serve Mexican Coke. Chips and salsa are complimentary.

When I asked for a take-out menu, they took out the pages from their plastic sleeve and handed it to me. I learned from dropping into a number of Mexican places, the preferred term for take-out menus is, "Menu to go." I do wonder if I had yet another communication problem there when I received the pages from their dining room menu.

El Caporal
622 Washington St.
Waukegan, IL 60085
Tel: 847/336-9329

Cathy: Sorry to hassle you again, but are you planning a Highland Park Taquerias list anytime soon? I just ask you this given your knowledge of the northern suburbs.

Much Appreciated.
Elie

I'm interested in a crawl!

Growing up in Waukegan, Ofelia's was a favorite. But when I went about 4 years ago I was disappointed, though the details escape me now.

The woman who recommended this sandwich, also recommended that we go to el Ranchito Michoacano in Waukegan. Not necessarily because they had the best food, but because she thought it might be the only restaurant in the area who might offer carne en su jugo.

So the owner said that he has been trying to promotecarne en su jugo as a worthy alternative to a weekend bowl of pozole or menudo, but without success. He says the version he makes is from Guadalajara (the green kind), and in his opinion is the best, but his customers aren't biting. PIGMON asked what dish he is known for--and he said that folks come from all over (he mentioned Highland Park--Cathy2?) to eat his enchiladas. So we sat down and had a little combo plate:


ENCHILADA, TAMAL, TACO

The enchilada was quite good. Thick homemade tortillas that had soaked in just the right amount of sauce. The owner, though from Michoacan, went to culinary school in New York, and said his favorite thing to do is to travel around Mexico with his wife checking out restaurants, markets, roadside stands, etc. He's obsessed enough with food to make me want to stop back in at some point and try out some more of his signature dishes.

El Ranchito Michoacano
1310 North Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, IL


AFTER LUNCH PIGMON PRETENDS LIKE HE'S IN MEXICO

foodie1 wrote:Cathy, in the event a joint crawl takes place, I'll join. . .

Me too. Would love it!

Thanks, Cathy, for the awesome list

=R=

what an embarrassment! i grew up in waukegan and haven't been to any of these restaurants! but then again my filipino parents didn't venture out of the chain and asian restaurants.... im gonna have to go one of these days. those pictures are making us drool!

trixie-pea wrote:El Ranchito Michoacano
1310 North Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, IL

Menus, etc.:
www.elranchitomich.com

HI,

trixie-pea wrote:PIGMON asked what dish he is known for--and he said that folks come from all over (he mentioned Highland Park--Cathy2?) to eat his enchiladas.

While I have been to El Ranchito Michoacano in the past. From referring to my post, it hasn't been since August, 2003 since I was last there. Unfortunately I am not the Highland Park driving force for enchiladas. In fact until I saw there was Carne en su Jugo there, my next item to try was their Chile Rellenos recommended by Zim's contact.

I was intrigued to visit El Ranchito Michoacano the first time when I learned the Chef-owner is a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America. I thought his background would allow a more consistent product than what I experience in other Mexican restaurants. I do recall they had quite a deft hand with their seafood.

I have to admit after trying Carne en su Jugo on the 47th-athon and again last week at Los Gallos on Archer. I am completely taken with that soup. I have asked several Mexicans about it to find it is not very well known. They may have heard about it though not many I am acquainted with have not actually tried it. From your visit to Ranchito, is the Carne en su Jugo a withdrawn item or simply weekends only and your visit was on a weekday? What signature dishes intrigued you for the future?

Thanks for reminding to visit Ranchito sooner rather than later!

Regards,

Cathy,

The owner at El Ranchito Michoacano informed us that they used to carry Carne en su Jugo but that there was absolutely no local interest in the dish whatsoever. Consequently, he withdrew it completely.

He also told us that being from Michoacan himself, he had seen the dish but that it certainly wasn't something that people from that state are automatically familiar with, as is the case with the citizenry of Jalisco. In fact, he said he went to Jalisco primarily to learn how to make Carne en su Jugo.

He highly doubts that any other restaurant out that way would likely carry it on their menu.

I took several coworkers from Jersey and San Francisco to ERM last monday, and forgot to post about it until now.

The place has an amazing menu: quail, frog's legs, and rabbit can be found on the menu, as well as a huge variety of seafood (although snapper, sea bass and catfish make up the large majority).


My comrades had the carne asada (which was thin-butterflied skirt steak, rather than the usual strip), enchimolados (folded tortillas dipped in sauce and topped with cheese) which were accompanied by a portion of the same carne asada, and a catfish florentine (which he kind of picked at and didn't comment on). I had a fried whole snapper with a red pepper sauce which was quite tasty: fresh-tasting fish, crisp skin and well flavored with slices of red peppers.

Appetizers were quite good: fresh guac was chunky and smooth at the same time, lots of onion and cilantro. Their "diabola" wings were a hit, with a spicy salsa more substantial than typical "Buffalo" wings clinging to them. Sopes with chorizo were nice little disks of porky greasy goodness.
The table chips and salsa were also top-notch.

Their tortillas, though, were astounding: thick, bready (almost yeasty in flavor), and chewy, they were great for sopping up sauce, or just eating with a little of the guacamole and salsa.

It wasn't an earth-shattering experience, but it was very good, much better than typical. I'll have to try it again, see what their lunch menu is like on one of my trips to Illinois Beach State Park.

HI,

Some of the cheapest gas in Lake County is on Grand Avenue just east of 41. Of course one has to find lots of reasons to make the stop practical from where I live. In reasoning only a fellow LTH'r would understand, it is an opportunity to check out a new (to me) taqueria.

It is easy to drive past Los Comales, because it is tucked in the rear of the lot. If you evaluate ethnic eateries by patronage by natives, then Los Comales is well received especially since I was the only non-Mexican dining there.

Sitting down to the table, I was greeted by the Mexican equivalent of the Wisconsin supper club relish tray:



I know better than eat these pickled vegetables full on, so I gingerly ate the carrot to confirm this is not for me.

I ordered a trio of tacos: barbacoa, el pastor and flank steak dressed in the Mexican style of cilantro and onions. I chuckled to myself I had the alternative of "American style: lettuce and tomatoes."



These tacos were $1.35 each, while full flavored the tortillas were smaller than what I normally encounter. The el pastor was not from a cone, though it was grilled well enough to be somewhat carmelized.

They have an open kitchen with big picture windows allowing to watch them prepare your meal.

For under $5, this was a very nice light lunch.

Taqueria Los Comales
635 N Mcaree Rd (at Grand Avenue)
Waukegan, IL
(847) 244-5203

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Some of the cheapest gas in Lake County is on Grand Avenue just east of 41.

It's often a even little cheaper than that along Sheridan or Lewis between 41 and the Wisconsin border.

Cathy2 wrote:...Los Comales is well received especially since I was the only non-Mexican dining there.

Sitting down to the table, I was greeted by the Mexican equivalent of the Wisconsin supper club relish tray...

I know better than eat these pickled vegetables full on, so I gingerly ate the carrot to confirm this is not for me.

More for me! Love the carrots, I can take or leave the cauliflower, but I will admit that the chiles themselves can be a little stronger than I find fun. Sometimes there's jicama, which is also a treat. El Famous Burrito will give you carrots and chiles if you ask, but not in such quantities as Los Comales.

Cathy2 wrote:They have an open kitchen with big picture windows allowing to watch them prepare your meal.

The TLC in Niles on Milwaukee (between Church and Ballard) is apparently very similar: the tubs o' escabeche, the open kitchen, the menu are pretty much the same, although I doubt they're all ex-teen nightclubs like the Niles one. Try the Cecina. A little pricier, but very flavorful thin steak slices with guacamole.

Reviving an old thread...A friend recently brought me to his favorite north suburban taco joint, El Rey del Pollo Asado, in Waukegan. He goes every week. Almost all of the staff speak only Spanish but you'll have no problem if you know a little Spanglish food vocab or can point at menu items. I've gone with him twice now; once midweek at 2pm and once on a Sunday at 10am while it was pouring rain. The place has been packed both times. They also have a drive through.

The lunch specials, Mon-Fri, can't be beat but it is pretty cheap regardless. I had the two taco lunch special with carne asada and al pastor on my first visit. It comes with Rice, Beans, and a drink for $5.89. There isn't a trompo present but it was pretty decent regardless. It didn't hold a candle to Rubi's or Tierra Caliente but still tasty. The carne asada was pretty weak compared to places like Taqueria Asadero on Montrose. This could've been due to the midweek visit at off peak hours. We also ordered a side of jalapeños, which are seasoned with what seems to be crack. These were delicious.

The star of the show, as evidenced by it's presence on every table, is the chicken. It isn't the biggest bird but it's moist and flavorful with crispy skin. I requested cilantro, onions, and limes on the side and they were happy to oblige at no cost. A half chicken dinner with a drink ran me $11+change:


They have a salsa bar with signs all over advising, 'FOUR SALSAS ONLY,' but I didn't see it enforced:

They don't have a website and a menu is relatively hard to find online so I thought I'd post:



El Rey del Pollo Asado
505 S Green Bay Rd
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone number (224) 656-5260

I'm so glad someone opened this thread again. I worked in Waukegan for all of 2015 before I started working at the Tribune, and tried a fair number of options in the area. I found a few solid places, which made the horrendous commute sort of worth it. None are quite worth making a trek all the way from Chicago for, but are a great side trip if you're in the area.

I wish I had more pictures. But since I don't work up there anymore, I don't have the option.

BTW: There were a number of Filipino places up in Waukegan and North Chicago.

Sazon

The best place I tried by far was Sazon. It's a charming little storefront in the middle of Waukegan, with cutesy signs on the wall. Great enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, which tastes like they actually made in house. Very good pollo con mole rojo and chile relleno. I was so excited when this place first opened, and went nearly every week.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend this place if my last couple visits weren't a little off. There seemed to be a new cook in the kitchen, and everything felt a little sloppy, where it had been clean and clear. Hopefully, it's back on track. When Sazon is good, it's very, very good.

Hours are a bit difficult. It's only open Thursday through Sunday.

Sazon
910 W. Glen Flora Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085
http://www.sazonwaukegan.com/

Birrieria Jaliscos
This was close to the office, so we went here a lot. Freshly made birra with handmade tortillas. Not in the same league as Zaragoza or anything, but immensely satisfying on a cold winter days. Ordered the goat tacos often, and the tortillas were always warm and soft. Interesting array of salsas on the table.

Birrieria Jaliscos
2118 N Greenbay Rd., Waukegan, IL 60087
(224) 399-9254

El Rey del Pollo Asado
From the moment you step out of the car in the parking lot, you can tell this place is about the grill. The smoky grilled chicken is quite good, if occasionally a tad dry. Great salsa bar and the sides make for a satisfying lunch.

El Rey del Pollo Asado
505 S Green Bay Rd, Waukegan, IL 60085
(224) 656-5260

A little north of Waukegan, but seemed appropriate for this thread, as this appears to be a branch of La Poblanita Bakery in Waukegan

La Poblanita, 2744 Sheridan Rd, 60099 Zion 847-731-6123

The front half is classic Panaderia: plastic tray and tongs, pick out what you want and pay for it. The back half has a handful of booths and the kitchen for tacos, burritos and huaraches. So far, I've only had the cecina and pastor tacos. The cecina is a little tough but tasty; the pastor is delicious especially with the green salsa $1.90 each (they were $1.50 the first time I was there but the size has gone up). No trompo, but lots of crispiness on the pork. This is my new go-to for beach days: quick, cheap and delicious (fall back is Culver's).

Correction, the name of the place is Los 3 Hermanos. Signs were left over from a previous management. They're still adjusting prices: tacos are now $1.99. However, they now deliver a table salsa and chips to the table, plus pickled carrots (a bit of chile and onion in there, but mainly carrot)