Simple and GREAT Tacos- Patino's in La Villita

Last night my sister, and I had an urge to pick a random spot for a late night taco snack, on our way to drop off our cousin Tere, who lives in Cicero. Alas, driving down Pulaski towards 47th and then from 47th to Central, we found no tacos. After last night's failure I was still determined to satisfy my taco quench. Today, I decided to call PANCHO (Frankie, Panch, or my mom's favorite Pancho Panteras). Panch lives in the neighborhood of La Villita, the heart of the Mexican community in Chicago.

Panch and I were set to go eat at El Milagro, but neither him or I were convinced about our final destination. We decided to pick a place at random  on "La Viente Seis." As I drove past 26th and Central towards Pulaski, my eyes met with the words BIRRIERA. I could taste that wonderful fatty goat meat. Our choice was made-Birriera Patino's Ocotlan.

I knew, as soon as I entered this restauraunt, that I had found a great taco. The smell of birriera, carne con cebolla, y chile permeated the building. The neon sign "Octatlan-Jalisco-Mexico," indicated that I was going to eat real Mexican prepared meat and tortillas. I knew it! I had no idea where Ocotlan, Jaslico is located.  Yet, I knew that the smell, and amount of people in this restaurant, at noon, was a sign of good food.

La mesera was ready to take order, immediately, as if she knew that we need no time to think about our order, because it was all going to be delicious. Both Panch and I had never been to Patino's. We had no idea what to order, but we both decided to get one taco of birriera, and our waitress recommended cabeza (head), so I ordered uno de cabeza, and Panch ordered uno de lengua (tongue). 

Our orders took less than 5 minutes to get to our table, and I immediatley got into my "taco stance," as Panch referes to it. My first taco was de birriera, and there was a fair amount of cebolla, cilantro, and salsa to offset the bits of fat in the birriera. Often there's either too much fat or too much caldo, neither was the case. But the real star of this taco outting was my taco de cabeza. MAN OH MAN! I could not stop talking about this taco, while I was eating it. I wanted that salty, fatty, tender meat to be absorbed by my taste buds. AND...the tortillas were awesome!

No they were not made fresh, but they were not greasy, cold, or tough. The tortilla had a corn-starchy and fully satisfying taste, cooked to a crispy golden perfection.

I was completely taken by these tortillas, being that I had previously complained about El Milagro tortillas in my last several blogs. Patino's uses tortillas from "El Popo." The tortillas are named after El Popocatepetl, the volcano located in Puebla, Mexico. They are manufactored here in Chicago, and they are truly authentic. If you would like more history on thier tortillas you can visit their website.  

Most definetely I will return for any meal at Patino's on 26th Street. That is a given! I can not speak enough about my tasty meal at Patino's! This is an authentic Mexican restauraunt with just simple good tasting food. I thank my amigo Pancho for recommending his "hood," as I know there are plenty of places to try from in La Villita.

More Tacos Please! Ceci and Angie at Tio Luis Tacos

Three days ago, Cecilia R. Real (Ceci) and Angeles Sandoval (Angie) graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago, SHOUT-OUT TO ALL 2012 UIC GRADUATES!

Graduate we did, and celebrate we did by treating ourselves to a taco dinner.  Tonight was as Ceci posted on her FB, while she “checked-in,” “girl talk, politics, and tacos!”

As promised, I suggested that we eat at Tio Luis Tacos, located near the intersections of Archer and Pershing. Tio Luis Tacos is a spot I’ve visited, previously, with my family, but never tasted their tacos. Since a Buscotacos reader made the recommendation, I gave their tacos a try.

 

And- my taco dinner was super awesome! First, I ordered a tall delicious and refreshing medium size agua de melon (melon flavored water). When my agua fresca arrived, I ordered two tacos de carne asada and one taco de al pastor.

Oh, do I wish I had ordered more than one al pastor. The al pastor was sweet and savory combined with the right amount of heat from the adobo, finished off with hidden and surprising bursts of freshness and sweetness, coming off the tiny chunks of pineapple that managed to sneak into my taco.  This taco was TOPS!

I asked Ceci to share a colorful culinary commentary on her taco outing, she said:

El agua de piña estaba tan fresca that you could taste the pineapple itself and the way that each of the meats had it’s own true flavor made the tacos really unique and delicious.

The restaurant is lively and vibrant. I mean we were sitting underneath a glass portrait of who we believe was Jose Alfredo Jimenez? (Ceci help me out!) Also, several of the walls are covered by mosaic work of Mexico’s most beautiful scenery, and the service is friendly.

Aside, from the great conversation on the inner working of women and men, and the ever-changing politics of this city, we could definitely agree that Tio Luis’s tacos were fantastic, and that we would most likely return.  We would return for juicy-tender asada, salsa picante, and the beautiful scenery.

But- Seriously! Can anyone help me find a tortilla prepared fresh or fresh tasting? I’m craving a tortilla that isn’t lined from a package, or merely laid on a greasy grill to be warmed up. NO! I’m looking for a tortilla that is given at least the same consideration and time as the meat…ayudame, por fa.

 For me specifics on the this restaurant visit their website http://www.tioluistacos.com/