La Piramide [LTHForum Taqueria Project]

After a bit of negotiation, I managed to get G Wiv to keep his promise of visiting a taqueria this week as part of the LTHForum Lawrence/Montrose Taqueria Project.

Along with stevez, we visited La Piramide for an antojito lunch. La Piramide is yet another welcoming, clean, and family-frienly spot on one of the most facinating streets in the city. The menu has all the usual suspects, nothing particularly out of the ordinary.

The meal started with some freshly fried, crispy chips and a trio of magnificent salsas. Usually my favorite, the salsa verde, while good, was the least exciting of the bunch. The smoky salsa rojo puree and the bright, herby pico de gallo style salsas both were full of fantastic flavor. The chips and salsa were such a hit that steve got a big bag of fresh chips and cups of salsa to take home to The Chow Poodle.


Salsas de La Piramide

The clear standouts of the meal were three of the tacos: cabeza (head), lengua (tongue), and chorizo. Both the cabeza and the lengua had a wonderful texture that came from a nice fresh steam or wet-roast in the oven. They both had the kind of in-your-face animal flavor that I wanted from these tacos. The chorizo taco was not too oily with good flavor and nice crispy bits. I would enjoy a plate of their chorizo and eggs, without a doubt.


Tacos - Cabeza (front left), Chorizo (front right), Al Pastor (rear), Lengua not pictured

The other meats were a bit of a disappointment. The pork in the al pastor, not from a cone, had no flavor and was practically indistinguishable from the carne asada. The non-taco masa treats were also a bit of a disappointment. Tough flavorless huaraches and sopes with too much cheese and lettuce. There just wasn't much care put into these at all.


Huarache al Pastor

So, La Piramide has some clear winners: great chips and salsas and very good tacos as long as you stay away from the standard meats and stick to things like cabeza and lengua. I'll have a hard time walking by and not stopping in for a taco de cabeza.

Best,
Michael

La Piramide
3645 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL
773-478-8522

eatchicago wrote:So, La Piramide has some clear winners: great chips and salsas and very good tacos as long as you stay away from the standard meats and stick to things like cabeza and lengua. I'll have a hard time walking by and not stopping in for a taco de cabeza.

Michael,

I though both lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head) quite good, with the lengua approaching my current favorite of La Pasadita. (East side of Ashland).

La Piramide Lengua (tongue) taco


As you say chorizo, chips and salsas were quite good as well. Carne asada and al pastor didn't seem to have much 'pop' and the over abundance of cheese didn't add to the mix from my perspective. Though I can easily see popping in for huevos ranchero with a side of chorizo or a couple of lengua tacos.

La Piramide's staff was friendly, the restaurant itself comfortable and clean,

It's amazing how even just a little exploration pays off. Places that, when driving by, seem somewhat impenetrable open up into welcoming, family run taquerias with, at least to date, quite good food.

Enjoy,
Gary