Late Night Taco Run to Zacatacos

It's been almost two weeks since my first taco outing, and I've neglected my taco duties long enough. Yet, since I'm only 8 days away from completing my undergraduate career (Yay!), I think any readers I've acquired won't be too disappointed.

Vamos hablar/Let's talk tortillas. 

Last weekend, Natalia and Sara, my gal pals, swung by the South Side and took my sister, Jenny and I to Zacatacos on the corner of 71st and Pulaski. Previously, I've only ate at Zacatacos once before, and I remember enjoying my medium size and fully loaded meaty tacos, then. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for this late night taco run. 

Sara, Jenny and I ordered tres (3) tacos, while Natalia order una torta (and a side of chiles vinagres, at'a girl), which may have been the better option given our insatisfaction with our choices. Sara ordered un taco de barbacoa topped with cilantro and onions, while Jenny ordered un taco de cecina with just cilantro, and I ordered un taco de cecina with the works (tomatoes, lettuce,  and cheese). 

I will admit that offering my humble opinion on the infamous Zacatacos' taco is daunting, since a variety of reports have rated their tacos as top in the city. But, I must be honest in saying that, while the cecina was cooked and seasoned perfectly, I was once again disappointed by the El Milagro tortillas. At La Placita, the tortillas had a nice char comal aroma and taste, but at Zacatacos, the tortillas were greasy and dry. Sara experienced a similar unpleasant tasting, she commented that her barbacoa was pieced and completely soaked through her tortilla.

However, this taco short fall does not mean that the experience was an overall unsatisfying outing. If you are looking for an authentic, bright and lively place to gather with your friends after a late night, I would recommend Zacatacos for its friendly customers and service.  The cocineros (chefs or cooks) were extremely pleasant and willing to strut a smile as I took snap shots of them hard at work. Zacatacos offers a variety of other choices on their menu (like their tortas, just ask Natalia). I personally would like to return to taste their platillos or the giant TACO BOWL, but especially for their fiery, spicy, and hot salsa roja.

Between the sudden Bieber-fever outburst sing-a-long by Natalia and Jenny, Sara's super kind indulgence of my newly found love for taco chisme, and our crispy fried tortilla chips smothered in that awesome smoky and spicy salsa roja, the night was a success.

Keep tuning in for more of my taco adventures. I appreciate all the feedback and positive energy! 

Mis Compañeros! A La Placita the Taco Quest Begins

Two days have past since “Busco Tacos,” a quest for some of the best tacos on the South Side of Chicago, went live. A great big ¡Gracias! to anyone and everyone who has glanced at my adventitious craving for tacos.

My co-workers will testify to my continuous taco rantings (I’ve become possessed by the aroma of tortillas on the comal). Where do I buy one? Who makes it? Homemade tortillas? Plain? Con cilantro? Spicy? That did it! My co-workers went into TACO MODE about “my favorite places are...” 


We came to the conclusion that there were definite local favorites and then there were others that were synonymous with “¿Oye! mejor vamos a otra, no?”  But we were caught in a greater question. What defines a “great” taco? No one could agree. Yet, this is exactly what I had hoped for- a cluster of distinct taco cravings. After all, I’m in search of places that sell authentic and tasty tacos that make our stomachs grin. 

As of today, I am letting my friends, fellow bloggers, and “Busco Tacos” readers lead my stomach on a grinning taco quest. So it was that my co-workers Evy, Marty, Roy and Manny, hungered by my incessant discussion about tacos, brought me on our lunch break, to “Super Mercado La Palcita,” located in the McKinley Park Neighborhood (near 35^th and Damen). 

Let’s talk tacos. At “La Placita,” a local corner grocery store, with a traditional hanging bell on the door, alerting the entrance of customers, is where we tried:

·        (2) tacos de asada (grilled steak) con onions, cilantro, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and queso chihuaha, and salsa verde (4.98 each)

·        (2) Tongue (lengua) tacos with onions, cilantro, 
tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and queso chihuaha, 
and salsa verde/ salsa roja (5.98 each)

·        (2) dos tacos de asada con cebolla (onions) y cilantro (1.99 each)

·        (2)  dos tacos de al pastor con onions, cilantro
and salsa verde/ salsa roja  (1.99 each)

·        (1) Un agua de horchata (rice water) y (2) refrescos (coke). 

On the very corner, in a small portion of the grocery store there are two cooks at the comal preparing the meat, vegetables, and salsa (keep in mind they prepare platillos, breakfast, burritos, tortas, and gorditas). But, the tacos are the business! 


The prices may seem a bit scary at first (4.98! Eep), but from my tasting of the tacos de al pastor, the tender meat, perfectly seasoned with the right amount of charred heat and spice rubbed on the nicely portioned chunks of meat, with a sprinkling of onions and cilantro (keeping the onions tasty, but not overpowering), these medium size tacos are worth the price. AND- from what my taco crew implied with the sour cream smeared on his cheek (uh-hmm Roy), and her reproaching GET ME SOME CHEESE, SOUR CREAM, and ALL OF THAT (uh-hmm Evy), I take it that the extra ingredients add a real refreshing counter to the already heat power-packed flavor of the salsa verde or rojo.

Now, las señora cocineras, who have worked there for 10 years, would not let me know the recipe of any of their dishes, but they informed me that all the recipes have been around since the beginning of this humble store front; a total of 15 years. If I had to say one of my least favorite parts about this experience is the TORTILLAS, yes they were the perfect medium size (one and you're pretty full) and they had a great crispy comal tasting bite, but they were not freshly made, they were packaged “El Milagro” tortillas.

La Placita, the store filled with the sound of crinkling bags, clinking glass bottles, moving traffic, chattering people, is definitely a spot that I would return with my taco gang and try some of the other tasty taco choices on their menu, and for the friendly cooks, free parking, and timely order delivery.  

Donde Estan/ Where Are Mis Tacos?

How about I start with a traditional ¡Hola! You may have saw in my description that I am from Chicago, born and raised on the South Side. Now, about a year ago, around this very month, I was sitting around an office round table discussing the worst and greatest taco joints in the city. Immediately! I wanted to write something- somewhere about TACOS.  

In about two weeks I will have graduated, giving me a tremendous amount of time, so I've decided to go on a TACO Quest. I have had my fair share of tacos made by Mom- la Señora Marina, various restaurants here and en México, and by a number of relatives, amigos… tu sabes.

Yet, what I am in the search of is a good taquera on the South Side that serves the BEST TACOS. This is no easy task, and I am going to need help!

So before I write anymore about the specifics of my SUMMER TACO QUEST 2012-2013, ayudame with posting your comments on your favorite taco places on the South Side and what you think makes a great TACO!   

GRACIAS! Thank you! 

Happy Eatings.