Eventful Night, Uneventful Taco

Sara, Alex, and I, hastily, jumped out of my car and into the side door of Atotonilco on 57th and Kedzie. By this part of the night, Doll face (Sara), Clark Kent (Alex), and Rosie the Rivetar (me) were stunned, cold, reeked of "jungle juice," that tasted like some strawberry medicinal liquor. All we needed was some grub, and the best type of late night pick-me up is a delicious taco.

 Doll face

Now, I only live a couple blocks away from this Atotonilco. I've avoided taqueria for years because of my previous unfortunate stomach malfunctions, after eating a taco from Atotonilco on Kedzie. But, being that my passenger side window was shattered on the floor of my car, the wind was blowing directly into my face, and I neglected to bring a jacket, because it clashed with my costume, Atotonilco was conveniently close.

Atotonilco is open 8:00 AM to 3AM on Fridays, which is amazing if you live in Gage Park, where most restaurants close their doors early. If only the food was as amazing. If my memory serves me correct, Alex and Sara both ordered tacos de asada, and I ordered tacos de barbacoa and al pastor. Ah, Alex, aslo, ordered a taco de al pastor. Hands down, the al pastor was the best of the three; it was sweet, salty, tender, and generously portioned.

Clark Kent

Sara could not finish her tacos de asada, actually she only took a bite. Her asada suffered the same fate as my barbacoa, dryness and lack of seasoning. I don't often talk about the pricing of a taco, but $2.25 for two large tortillas and some slapped on unseasoned meat, just doesn't seem fair.

The Unmentionables 

Yes, you need to make a profit from the product you're producing, but even if it's three in the AM, the prepared food should be tasty and satisfying.

Where can I get a late night TASTY taco snack on the south side? Donde? Actually, if you know a great place anywhere, please recommend. I have my eye on Flash Taco...

Bitter National Taco Day at Mis Tacos

Many of you may already know, yesterday was National Taco Day. Although, I’ve dubbed myself, amongst only my closest friends, who would probably smirk at the following statement, the taco authority, I was completely baffled and thrilled that such a holiday existed.

Side note: Also, let us not forget, yesterday was National Vodka Day! "на здоровье"

My first reaction was to investigate the origins of this supposed taco holiday. I couldn’t find an actual official record that governed National Taco Day, but apparently many celebrate this holiday, and it’s been going on for years.

Yesterday, should have been another festive taco celebration, especially, since this was the first year, I would officially commemorate a national holiday, devoted to the staple of Mexican cuisine. Why shouldn't there be a day to celebrate the versitatlity of a taco, better yet, my favorite part of a taco, the tortilla.Virtually any Mexican dish can be accompanied by a corn or flour tortilla, if it’s already not part of the dish.

My impetuous nature betrayed me…

Hastily, I chose a dinner spot for my sister, brother, and I, close to the neighborhood.

Marty, was hesitant to eat tacos, since he had already had unpleasant experience at Los Alamos in Pilsen. He was convinced that his burnt carne asada gave him a headache, and Jenny didn’t mind what we ate, as long as we ate, now.

Since, we had to be in the West Lawn area, I remembered a taco restaurant on Marquette Rd. I pointed to the restaurant, and we arrived to Mis Tacos, between Kildare Ave & Kolin Ave. Completely optimistic about this small empty corner restaurant, across the street from West Lawn Park, and aside from a local laundry mat, we sat and took in the tasty aroma of asada on the grill.

Marty refused to order any more tacos, so he ordered one gordita de nopales, and another with chicken. Jenny ordered two tacos de asada with only cilantro.While, I ordered one chicken taco, and un taco de tripas (tripe) with cilantro and onions.

Unlike the tacos I ate last week from La Quebrada, there was no finesse in anything I saw, smelled, or tasted at Mis Tacos. Perhaps, you’re not looking for any finesse, just a taco with some slapped on meat, tiny dried out cilantro, and an overpowering amount of onions.

I’ll admit it. I’m a rotten over-indulged taco eater!

Yes, I prefer a corn tortilla that isn’t greased up, and then simply warmed-up. I prefer a chicken taco that, while, nicely cooked and marinated, isn’t just thrown on a tortilla, and called a taco.

My tripe was cooked medium rare, with a great crisp, but my sisters’ steak was tough, almost burnt. I think that’s all I have to say ‘bout that.

Sorry Jennaaay!

Normally, I would end on a positive note, and suggest that this restaurant needs a redemption day, but I will not be returning to Mis Tacos, after a night of stomach ache, and bitter aftertaste, even if Marty enjoyed his nopales.

*Correction Marty had RAJAS...