Taco Places

I was heading to Walmart and I decided to eat at the Mexican place in the old Arby's, Casa Chapala's Grill. I wasn't expecting much from the Mexican place in the old Arby's but boy did they show me. I walk in and there are a lot of men. There were 2 women but they finished with their family and left soon thereafter. And the restaurant was ba-lasting Mexican music. I could barely hear myself think. The cashier asked if it's going to be dine-in and I say to go. I figure I can eat in the peace and tranquility of my car. I notice a ceviche tostada on the menu and my interest was piqued. I then notice he has an extensive seafood section on his menu. I decided to try the ceviche tostada and a chorizo taco. I then think it may messy to eat a shrimp tostada in my car so I change my order dine-in and figure I'll eat really quick. The chorizo taco was spot-on. The ceviche tostada was brimming with shrimp. The mixture was more shrimp than onions and it came with fresh avoc...

I was discussing good taquerias with a (Mexican) coworker and she said I had to try Los Cómales in Niles. It’s the same as the one in Pilsen/Little Village.  Though Niles is close, I don’t generally go in that direction much. But Friday I had a haircut in the vicinity so I hit up Los Comales on the way home. It was pretty busy, mostly with dine-in customers and a couple waiting for takeout. As I took a seat, I noticed the Mexican giardiniera in clear plastic containers and instantly recognized that to the city location. They brought chips and salsa. The salsa was very fresh, tasty, spicy and the right garden consistency. It’s the best salsa I’ve had yet. I could have eaten by the spoonful. I ordered a chorizo taco, a cecina taco and a suadero taco, some kind of flank steak taco I never heard of. Otherwise known as the cholesterol sampler.  The tortillas were slightly thicker than regular corn tortillas, like a thin sope. The chorizo hit-greasy and spicy and good. The suad...

I was passing by a taqueria that I’ve already rated 5/5. If I were to rate one taqueria 6/5 as the winner, it would be a strong contender as the best. Since it’s so good I was tempted to eat there again but the point of this blog is to try different taquerias. The last time I had noticed Super Mercado a couple of doors down and wondered if they make tacos there as well. I rolled by Super Mercado. It had a sign in the window for quesadillas and beans with a price. My feelings were confirmed: they are running a butcher/taco stand in back. I decided to check it out. The store’s like a cramped New York bodega and the carnicería is in the back. 2 cashiers and the taco maker do not speak any English. I got by with my rudimentary Spanish but be forewarned if you don’t speak enough. They had a chalkboard menu with a few things offered on weekends, like barbacoa (do I have to buy by the pound? How would I explain in my limited Spanish how I want it prepared?) and tamales (too much masa for my l...

La Taquiza y Mas is on the way home from my gym. I stopped by once before but they are closed on Sundays. The place was uber-cute inside so I was hopeful it would be good. I ordered a chicken tinga taco and a chorizo taco. $3/ea. While waiting I noticed they have Thaco Thursday when basic tacos are $1.50. I took my seat. No chips, but there was no server so that was OK. My tacos came up and it was time to eat.  The chicken tinga taco was tasty but it was a different taste then the tinga I recently had at a 5/5 taqueria. Not as tinga-y and the chicken was clumpy and dry. La Preferida tortillas. In one bite I felt something in my mouth and for a split second my mind thought it was a bad part of chicken that got chopped in but then I realized it was the stems from the cilantro, which they chopped in instead of out. Seemed like a messy prep. I just never had stems with cilantro in another restaurant before. Nit picky, I know. It was just something I noticed. Then I tried the chorizo ta...