How far do I have to go for a gordita?

Hi,

Moved to Chicago last fall. Used to be pretty indifferent to Mexican, but this board convinced me to check out places like the Maxwell Street Market and Pilsen, where I encountered gorditas for the first time in my life.

I love gorditas!

Last fall, we lived in the West Loop and could drive down to Pilsen whenever we had a hankering.

Now my husband and I live in Lakeview East --near Belmont and Lake Shore--and we no longer have a car. Clearly, we can take the bus and/or the El to Pilsen, but it's rather a long ride. (Last week we bussed to Humboldt Park for the Fiesta P.R. and I happily found gorditas there, but--again--a long ride.)

If I really have to schlep down to Pilsen or (on Sundays) the Maxwell Street Market for my gordita fix, then so be it. But wondered if folks on this forum might be able to point me anywhere nearer. Because I'm fairly new to Chicago it occurred to me I could be missing something closer by.

Thanks for your help,
Deb

Gorditas in East Lakeview. That's a tough one. I don’t know how much help I’ll be but here are a few suggestions. I’ve had pretty bad luck with places in the vicinity of Belmont and the Lake. Plenty of “burritos as big as your head” and some “healthy Mexican” but not much worthwhile and no gorditas as far as I can remember. My single experience at the upscale Platiyo a few months ago was quite disappointing (others have reported better) and I don’t think they have gorditas anyway. There may be some decent spots within walking distance for you but I’m drawing a complete blank. So then it becomes a question of where can you get to easily by bus, preferably without transferring.

My first thought was Taqueria El Milagro on Belmont just east of Ashland but I think they might not serve gorditas. Still, it’s a reasonably authentic taqueria (sibling to the one on 26th St). They have the usual tacos, tortas, and burritos but their best offerings are probably the guisados (made on 26th St), displayed on a steam table. A good deal at $5 for a complete meal. It won’t make you forget Pilsen or Maxwell St but it might just tide you over from time to time.

In the same area, on Ashland just south of Belmont, don’t forget Doña Torta for some pretty good tortas in unusual varieties. Again, I don’t think they offer gorditas but they do have perritos Mexicanos, something everyone should try at least once.

Continuing west on Belmont, there’s Taqueria Traspasada where Belmont, Elston and California (2800 W) meet. I’m almost certain they have a window sign listing gorditas though nothing on the printed menu. In any case I haven’t sampled the gorditas but have been generally pleased with their other food. Not long ago they served me a taco filled with beef heart “and other things” that’s not on the menu but was one of the best things I’ve eaten in a while. You might get lucky.

Taqueria El Milagro
1434 W Belmont Av
Chicago
773-975-2348
Sun-Thu 9am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-4am

Doña Torta
3057 N Ashland Av
773-871-8999
open to midnight every day

Taqueria Traspasada
3144 N California Av
Chicago
773-539-4533
Mon-Thu 9am-1am, Fri-Sat 9am-2am, Sun 9am-10pm

You can try El Palmar on west Iriving Pk. I know they offer gorditas, although they aren't the best I've had. Caminos de Michoacan right down the street on Sheridan may also offer them, although I don't know for sure. These two places are more authentic than most Mexican places in the neighborhood.

I grew up in Cicero (now live in East Lakeview as well) and I can tell you that by far, the best gorditas I have had in the Chicago area are at the restaurant Aguascalientes in Cicero, on Cicero Avenue, north of Cermak Rd. They specialize in gorditas and have a wide variety of fillings. My favorite is "chicharron en salsa verde" - pork rinds in green salsa. Also very tasty is the "carnitas en salsa verde" - pork in green salsa. I seriously go there about once every two weeks to have them - they are that good. It's a ways away but well worth the trip.

The gorditas at La Quebrada on 51st and California are quite good.

edgarg23 wrote:You can try El Palmar on west Iriving Pk. I know they offer gorditas, although they aren't the best I've had. Caminos de Michoacan right down the street on Sheridan may also offer them, although I don't know for sure. These two places are more authentic than most Mexican places in the neighborhood.

That’s a good call. I got locked into thinking only about Belmont but both Caminos de Michoacan and El Palmar are easily accessible by the Sheridan bus #151. Like the other places mentioned, neither is likely to become an all-time favorite but they are good to know about. Both are open late, very late on weekends (sorry don’t have exact hours).

Taqueria Caminos de Michoacan
3948 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago
773-296-9709

El Palmar
1008-1/2 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago
773-404-5969

edgarg23 wrote:I grew up in Cicero (now live in East Lakeview as well) and I can tell you that by far, the best gorditas I have had in the Chicago area are at the restaurant Aguascalientes in Cicero, on Cicero Avenue, north of Cermak Rd. They specialize in gorditas and have a wide variety of fillings. My favorite is "chicharron en salsa verde" - pork rinds in green salsa. Also very tasty is the "carnitas en salsa verde" - pork in green salsa. I seriously go there about once every two weeks to have them - they are that good. It's a ways away but well worth the trip.

A good call also. For years I’ve enjoyed gorditas at Gorditas Aguascalientes (inside Carniceria Aguascalientes, 3132 W 26th). I assume the two places are related.

While we haven’t had a chance to check out these nearer gordita places (thanks for the recommendations!), we did try a small Mexican place on Broadway near Belmont called Buena Vista.

The atmosphere is clean, yet very casual. No gorditas, but the food is decent and remarkably cheap. On my first visit I had a steak sope and a side of guacamole for three dollars and change—very filling (and tasty!).

On my second visit, with Victor, we got a mini-steak-chimichanga appetizer (the chimichangas were mini, but the serving [5] was not), two steak sopes, and a steak torta for under $15 dollars.

The house salsas and chips are very good (terrifically crunchy chips) and we filled up quite a bit on those while we waited for our order to arrive. The time it took—not to mention the taste--seemed to assure that everything was freshly made.

The mini-chimichanga appetizer consisted of a plate of frozen-blintz-size chimichangas, wonderfully crisp and stuffed with nicely flavored bits of steak. We each had one and set the rest aside to take home; then we split a sope, and took a bite each of the torta. (The next day we had a great lunch. )

Only complaint is the torta bread. So soft it reminded me of Wonder.

El Nuevo Buena Vista Taqueria
3147 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
773-871-5782

edgarg23 wrote:Caminos de Michoacan right down the street on Sheridan may also offer [gorditas], although I don't know for sure.

They do have them, but I found mine heavy and greasy on our visit there in May. The tacos, with handmade tortillas, were much better.

I especially enjoyed the mild but flavorful al pastor pork, with bits of pineapple in it, and the very spicy chorizo. They also offer tripitas, tripe; cabeza, beef head, and lengua, beef tongue, for the adventurous. Handwritten signs promise pozole, menudo and mole on the weekends.

They also have a very good salsa verde served gratis with chips and a nice watermelon agua.

The late hours are a real plus.

Taqueria Caminos de Michoacan
3948 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60613 773/296-9709
10 a.m.-3 a.m. M-Th; -5 a.m. F-Sa; 8 a.m.-3 a.m. Su
Delivery, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cash only
(Also: 4651 N. Clark St., Chicago 773/334-6441)

I thought I'd bump this thread because I just happened to do a search for gorditas (the thread about food on Howard Street got me thinking about gorditas) and I happen to live at almost the same location as the OP. So I'm bumping it in case the OP has any feedback about the suggested locations, or in case anyone else has gordita locations to recommend on the north side near Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Andersonville, etc. Unlike the OP, I actually have a car, but (bite my tongue) might not want to drive an hour RT to the neighborhoods where gorditas flourish!

i live in jefferson park and there's a nice little taqueria called "el gallo #2" right near me on milwaukee ave at lawrence. they feature tortillas made by hand and serve up some pretty nice gorditas as well as very good carnitas.

not too close to lakeview, i know, but it's only a block away from the jefferson park el stop which is a public transportation hub.

elakin wrote:i live in jefferson park and there's a nice little taqueria called "el gallo #2" right near me on milwaukee ave at lawrence. they feature tortillas made by hand and serve up some pretty nice gorditas as well as very good carnitas.

Closer than that is the very good Taqueria El Gallo on Montrose. I believe this is the #1 to Jefferson Park's #2.

annieb is fond of their gordita con papas y nopales. I'm fond of the whole place in general.

Taqueria El Gallo
3532 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618-1140
Phone: (773) 267-1834

Best,
Michael

edgarg23 wrote:
I grew up in Cicero (now live in East Lakeview as well) and I can tell you that by far, the best gorditas I have had in the Chicago area are at the restaurant Aguascalientes in Cicero, on Cicero Avenue, north of Cermak Rd. They specialize in gorditas and have a wide variety of fillings. My favorite is "chicharron en salsa verde" - pork rinds in green salsa. Also very tasty is the "carnitas en salsa verde" - pork in green salsa. I seriously go there about once every two weeks to have them - they are that good. It's a ways away but well worth the trip.

Here's some visual support.

nice pics Rob, are we going to get a phot essay on all the old VI favorites?

This would be a pretty far way to go from lakeview for a gordita, I think the agua. . . in little village would even be closer, and if going that far, there's a whole range of places that could be brought into the discussion

I don't think I've ever had gorditas, but as I was out this afternoon doing recon for the North Clark-a-thon, I felt like I saw them listed on signs at several places.

Looking through the menus I brought back, I can definitely say that they are served at El Rey del Taco (Carne Asada, Lengua Carnitas, Pastor, Suadero, Picadillo Pollo, y Chorizo) and Taqueria El Pueblito (Pollo, al Pastor Carne Asadas, Carnitas, Chorizo, Picadillo, Bistec con Rajas, Lengua, y Chicharron).

Oh, yes, el Chorrito also has them listed just as "Sopes y Gorditas (your choice meat)"

El Rey Del Taco
7104 N. Clark
773-262-9411

Taqueria El Pueblito
6712 N. Clark
773-381-1638

Taqueria el Chorrito
6404 N. Clark St.
773-381-0902

Vital Information wrote:

edgarg23 wrote:I grew up in Cicero (now live in East Lakeview as well) and I can tell you that by far, the best gorditas I have had in the Chicago area are at the restaurant Aguascalientes in Cicero, on Cicero Avenue, north of Cermak Rd. They specialize in gorditas and have a wide variety of fillings. My favorite is "chicharron en salsa verde" - pork rinds in green salsa. Also very tasty is the "carnitas en salsa verde" - pork in green salsa. I seriously go there about once every two weeks to have them - they are that good. It's a ways away but well worth the trip.

Here's some visual support.

Tender after stewing. Not too spicy.

My main goal?


Small chop. Slightly cinnamony chorizo

My Bride?


In the land of thick masa this was no exception. Thick layer of marinated chicken, thick cheese.

Doing a good business at dinnertime Friday. Everything excellent as usual.

Taqueria Aguascalientes
2106 S Cicero Ave, Cicero