More Than Just a Local Favorite: La Quebrada

Every community has their local gem; it’s the place everyone goes to on a Sunday morning for chorrizo con huevo (eggs), or un menudo (tripe soup). Your local favorite is conveniently located at the corner of your block, and never has enough parking, and you don’t mind waiting for a seat. I think I’ve found my local favorite in Gage Park on the South Side of Chicago.

La Quebrada is located on the corner of 51^st and California, an area I’m very familiar with, being only blocks away from my childhood parish and school, St. Simon. I’ve been to this restaurant a handful of times, but never to eat their tacos. I wish I had before. The experience was great!

My sister Jenny and her Queen of Peace classmate, Sara both joined me for an afternoon taco outing. We entered La Quebrada, sat at their newly renovated and expanded section, traditionally decorated as if I was in a restaurant in Guerrero, Mexico.

 La Quebrada in Mexico, is an extremely famous attraction in Acapulco. Many daredevils travel to the cliff dive, and plunge themselves into an extremely narrow entrance of the Pacific Ocean.

Sara, Jenny, and I dived into their steamy salsa, which I knew had barely come off the molcajete (traditional Mexican stone mortor and pestle), since it looked roughly prepared and had great heat.  

Then, we placed our order. Jenny and Sara each ordered two steak tacos with cilantro and onions on the side. While, I ordered one chicken taco, un taco de barbacoa (goat meat), and un taco de lengua (tongue) with cilantro and cebolla (onions). Sara was curious to taste tongue tacos.

Our order took about 20 minutes to get to the table, but I didn’t mind the wait, when they finally arrived to the table, I knew it was worth the wait. The tortillas were hand made! 

Finally, a place that makes their own tortillas, on the south side! Ugh, I could taste the grounded maize, and more importantly it tasted like it was cooked on a clean, non-greasy comal. The tortillas had golden brown char marks, and flaky crisp edges.

All the meats were equally delicious. My favorite was the tender, melting, marinated, mouth-watering, juicy, and thinly prepared barbacoa. The tacos were simple, and the ingredients were fresh and prepared perfectly.

La Quebrada is not just one of my local favorites for tacos, it is by far the best taco I have tasted. I recommend this spot for any occasion, anytime.