Gapers Block has ceased publication.
Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
TODAY
Thursday, March 30
Fuel
mmm / April 19, 2004 8:51 AM
Are you talking about the one at Halsted and Cornelia?....definitely the best in the city!
m.
yum, tacos! / April 19, 2004 8:56 AM
la pasadita! the steak and barbacoa tacos are yummmmmy.
Joe / April 19, 2004 8:58 AM
Taquo Bell!
brian / April 19, 2004 9:08 AM
Sheesh. That's like asking me to pick out who has the best martinis or hot dogs in Chicago. I think my answer to this question would be: "what block am I on?"
A time-honored tradition has become El Cid on Kedzie. It follows in a long line of favorite burrito hideouts, including Taco/Burrito Express, the place next door to Berlin, and Mi Mexico at Diversey and Pulaski.
By the way, has anyone eaten at the Papuseria on Western just north of Lawerence? Papusas are the new tacos man - they are so so good.
len / April 19, 2004 9:08 AM
Taqueria Super Burrito on Western & LeMoyne. The most perfect non-black bean veggie burrito I've found in the city so far...
brian / April 19, 2004 9:09 AM
Len, you must go to the Mission district of San Francisco. It's the Mecca of burrito culture.
A lex / April 19, 2004 9:20 AM
Although "La Pasadita" does have the best salsa negra in the city, my pick is "Los Comales" on 18th street or 26th street -- either one will do. Tacos de cesos y de lengua...mmmmm.
Benjy / April 19, 2004 9:53 AM
Sweet! Taking my recommendations from how to improve GB already! Looks like I'll be eatin' some Mexican this week.
CD / April 19, 2004 10:17 AM
EL MILAGRO!
Onid / April 19, 2004 10:20 AM
I must echo Brian's post. If the urge for a burrito hits me I don't have one specific place that I go to. A lot of times the place I go to all depends on what part of the city I am in at the time. That being said the El Famous Burrito on Clark is the one I go to quite a bit. Someone took me to El Cid once but I was a drunken passenger and I wasn't paying attention on how to get there. What I do remember is that the burrito was AWESOME!!!
Andrew / April 19, 2004 10:29 AM
In my old neighborhood (Buena Park) it was El Palmar, just west of Sheridan on Irving Park. Awesome burritos de lengua, and open 24 hours to boot.
I haven't settled on one up here in Rogers Park yet -- there are so many I doubt I'll try them all before new ones pop up.
steve_sleeve / April 19, 2004 10:59 AM
huentitan on north avenue, or the one on montrose right by welles park, can't remember the name.
and flash taco, if i've been drinking.
E Lo / April 19, 2004 11:19 AM
One time the aforementioned El Palmar was closed. I thought the apocalypse was coming so I drank some gas. Best Taqueria in that zip code...ever.
Naz / April 19, 2004 11:25 AM
Echo Brian's sentiments.
If I'm in the Logan Square/Bucktown/Wicker Park area, it's Arturo's or Lazo's. Great taco's at Arturo's.
Irazu has some killer food - their veggie burrito is pretty good.
Best non-black bean burrito I've had is at Allende on Lincoln near Fullerton.
On a side note: Does anyone know of a good place to get good fish tacos or ceviche?
Carlos / April 19, 2004 11:37 AM
Ceviche? Yeah!! My house!! Well that is if my dad is ever able to get ahold of that guy that made it for us last time.
Kris / April 19, 2004 11:39 AM
Naz: if you don't have anything against corporate restaurants, I actually think Uncle Julio's Hacienda at North and Clybourn has great ceviche. I'd like to hear some more local suggestions, though. I'll tell you this: don't order the ceviche at Mi Tierra at Belmont and Kenmore. It was sad.
Jaxxxon Chrysler / April 19, 2004 12:08 PM
Tomorrow I'm hooking up with Don Cornelius, we're gonna make burritos. Yeah we're gonna cook em on the moon.
PS I drank some gas last weekend... what a blast
A lex / April 19, 2004 12:14 PM
No, Kris, no! Uncle Julio's is to Mexican food what Olive Garden is to Italian.
Kris, we'll have to go get you some good ceviche.
Benjy / April 19, 2004 12:29 PM
mmm... fish tacos sounds good right now! I was thinking attempting to make some this week. I've had some tilapia sitting in my freezer...
dawson / April 19, 2004 12:50 PM
1. Chipotle... I know, I know, it's not authentic, but it's soooo good.
2. Las Mananitas (Halsted & Brompton)
3. El Mariachi (Broadway & Roscoe)
j3s / April 19, 2004 1:12 PM
I've been craving ceviche ever since returning from Costa Rica. Irazu does it pretty well, as does El Barco on Ashland, though I'm still searching out other places. What I'm really looking for though is mediterranian ceviche: with olive oil and garlic, a little less limey than the usual preparation.
Eamon / April 19, 2004 3:13 PM
For you Rogers Park folks: Vinnie's Taqueria on Devon a block east of Clark. Why? One, they deliver. Two, their menu is a wall and a half wide, and includes decent ribs, good pizza, and passable fried chicken. Three, the tostadas are fully wife-approved, which is something coming from a Los Angeles girl.
1527 W. Devon, (773) 274-7018.
Andrew / April 19, 2004 3:47 PM
I live two blocks down the alley from Vince's, so it's my stand-by. It's decent and definitely has a wide-ranging menu, but the burritos are lacking. Too heavy on the refried beans and sour cream -- those flavors end up overpowering everything else.
anne / April 19, 2004 4:00 PM
Naz: For fish tacos, head to Missoula, Montana "Tacos del Sol" $3.50.
I haven't found their match yet in Chicago, I'm sad to say.
Cinnamon / April 19, 2004 4:19 PM
For fish tacos, I recommend Su Casa and http://www.gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/avocadomango_salad_and_fish_tacos.php. I've tried a couple around me, and eh. But, I had some great shrimp tacos at Los Mariscos on Clark in Rogers Park near Pratt. They also have a seafood soup (Siete de Mare, I think) that Andrew talked about for weeks. I've gotten bored with burritos. Never thought I'd say that, but I have.
lacey / April 19, 2004 4:30 PM
When I lived in Roger's Park I was all over El Famous Burrito on Clark near Lunt. Their burritos are huge and they give you free chips & salsa if you eat there. The food is just really yummy...I associate it with comfort food, actually. Mm. And if you go there, don't forget the horchata!
haydn / April 19, 2004 5:05 PM
1. The taqueria at the northeast corner of Blue Island and Damen. Only been there once but incredible.
2. The one at the southeast corner of Clark and Touhy.
Xan / April 19, 2004 5:25 PM
Best Burrito in the Nation : Mariachis near the corner of 16th & Valencia in San Francisco.
Carlos / April 19, 2004 10:57 PM
haydn,
The restaurant you mention in #1 is called "Raymonds". There are a few of those in the city...well in the Pilsen area that is.
A lex / April 20, 2004 8:22 AM
Raymond's! I haven't been there since I was kid. There was one on Cermak, right off California next to the old bowling alley in the neighborhood where I grew up. They had the best burritos. And next door to Raymond's was Frank's which had the best hamburgers and hot dogs -- but that's another "Fuel" question.
'That Ian' / April 20, 2004 8:27 AM
Mine. I make the best burritos and tacos on the face of the planet. Seriously. 100% Vegan taco heaven.
Onid / April 20, 2004 8:58 AM
El Famous Burrito on Clark near Lunt
If the right guy is behind counter he tells me my order before I have a chance to say it (steak burrito w/everything and a cheese quesadilla)...I feel proud (I am regular. Everybody knows my name...) and a little bit pathetic (Am I that predictible?!?!) all at once.
Krissy / April 23, 2004 3:31 PM
I'm really digging on Picante, a little shack of a place on Division just west of Damen. The ingredients are really fresh, the staff are really cool and the burritos are as big as a leg (well, maybe a baby leg, but that's still pretty big.)
andrew / April 26, 2004 5:20 PM
>By the way, has anyone eaten at the Pupuseria on Western just north of Lawerence? Papusas are the new tacos man - they are so so good.
You mean Las Delicias, and yes I have. My girlfriend and I actually had a romantic dinner there on Valentines Day complete with Spanish karaoke crooning. Pupusas are the way of the future.
Recently on Fuel
Urban Ethos [26]
What is Chicago's "urban ethos"?
Cool Glass of... [16]
What're you drinking?
Supreme Decision [22]
What's your reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act?
Taking it to the Streets [20]
Chicago Street Fairs: Revolting or Awesome?
I Can Be Cruel [9]
Be real: what is the meanest thing you've ever done?
Ian / April 19, 2004 8:30 AM
Oh my...Taco Burrito Express (the Halsted one)!