My husband and I came here for his birthday as we do almost every year. The food was just not as good as I remember but perhaps it was because it was New Year's Day? We got guac and a bunch of tacos and my husband got a michelada. I used to LOVE the panza taco but it was just... underwhelming. The strange thing is that we dined at the wicker location only a few months before and it was just as good as always. I'm not sure if we will be back to this location even though it is closer for us. If you tell them it's your birthday you get free tequila shots. read more

One thing I can always say about Big Star is that it will always be a clutch restaurant. Yes at times it can be a little more on the pricey side , the deliciousness of the food always makes up for it. Every location I go to hits the same as before. My favorite meal is usually the fish tacos. If you have never I suggest you go right now. read more

All I have to say is NO! I was really hoping for good food. Sadly I will not recommend this place. Like ever never will I recommend. I ordered ELOTE ( a classic street corn meal that is almost impossible to mess up!) or so I thought. The Elote was the biggest disappointment I've ever took a bite of. There was weird burnt black specks of what looked like charcoal on top. The crème was some gross siriacha mayo and the corn was torched. 100% biggest disappointment. I was so excited then I became so applauded. The tacos were just gross. Nobody out of 5 people ate their food. NOT WORTH IT!!!! Service was quick though. If you want IFFY food but fast service. read more

This location is directly across from Wrigley Field, so it's a great spot to drop in before or after a game for some tacos and margaritas. The space is great, two floors with retractable windows to give you an open air feel (perfect, especially during covid). The menu, while tasty, is extremely limited. It's a taco joint, and that's pretty much it. They do have one salad on the menu which I tried and really enjoyed! It comes with romaine, loads of veggies, and toasted pumpkin seeds. The chile-ranch dressing with delicious! If you're ever not in the mood for tacos (or have already tried the whole menu) try the salad! You won't be disappointed. The tacos are delicious, but it is a little confusing how they are presented. They pair tacos by the kind, not the order, so the table has to divvy them up upon arrival. Not a huge deal, but if you're with a larger group and forgot what you ordered, it can be a little confusing. If you're in the mood for tacos, check it out! read more

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I went for an event so can't comment on pricing but food was great. Barbacoa tacos very tender and flavorful. Chicken excellent too. Great service very upbeat army- and fabulous mango margaritas read more

This was our first stop for a beer in the Windy City. We headed over to Wrigleyville and stopped in. We got a seat outside right across from historic Wrigley Field. It was a couple of hours before a Cubs game, and wasn't that busy. We were only here for a short time and wanted to see a couple more areas of Chicago before dark. The bar was huge for this part of town. Service was very good and friendly. I had a really good local IPA. We also had chips and a couple of different sauces. Very good! No complaints from me. We were ready for a long walk to a couple more bars in a little quieter neighborhood. read more

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I came here on a weeknight and it was easy to get a seat at the bar. I ordered the al pastor taco and the pork belly taco. The al pastor taco was terrible. The meat was so dry that it was hard to chew. The pork belly was okay, but didn't have that much flavor. I really wanted to love their tacos since I've heard so many good things about them. It was definitely a let down. Also, the price of a taco was expensive for what you got. $5 for the al pastor and $4.50 for the pork belly. The tacos are small. The ensalada de jamaica (side salad) was really fresh and maybe was the best part of my meal. The bartender and staff were all very good and attentive and I love the music and atmosphere of this place. Too bad the tacos were a miss. read more

I always drop by when in town, and Big Star never disappoints. I stopped in on a Tuesday night with 3 coworkers and was seated promptly. We did make a reservation as they fill up quickly, and the wait can get long; especially on a nice night where sitting outside is the best option. For food, we started with the queso Fundido and the chips and guacamole. The queso promptly arrived hot and fresh and was on point. The only suggestion here is I recommend eating it with the chips instead of the tortillas it comes with. Either way is good, but personal preference is with chips. The guacamole was fresh and the chips were warm, which made a nice combination. After apps, we order a variety of tacos, including the Pescado, Pastor, Panza, and shrimp tacos. All were very good, but admit the Pescado and shrimp are my favorite. You can't go wrong with anything you order here. read more

I am surprised I have not written a review for Big Star. I love it here. Especially when it is not baseball season and I want a salad. The salads are the best. I also like the aqua fresca and guacamole. And the tacos. The only thing I do not like is the walking taco, but I dont really blame Big Star for that. I wish they had some dessert and more mocktails, but I am annoying like that. It is expensive, what isnt around Wrigley? It is a privilege to sit at Big Star and have a meal and watch the action across the street. Its just the best. read more

Big Star I guess the best word to describe my experiences with all Big Star restaurants over the years is "Confusion". How can a restaurant that consistently puts out bad food be so popular? How can an owner, a chef or any staff member, taste their own food and say "Nailed it", when their tacos are objectively dry, unseasoned and just an all around bummer? I was able to convince myself that I liked Big Star ten years ago or so because I was 22 and had no taste. But even then, my consciousness would tell me to stop doing this to myself; but I would suppress this inner voice because hey, all of my friends raved about it, there were always long lines to be seated and the vibe was cool. So I would sit there like a schmuck, adding salt to my $5 tacos that turned my mouth into a desert as my Mexican-DNA let out ancestral cries. I probably didn't go to any Big Star for about a decade until 2023. I'm older and wiser. By this point, I had begun cooking traditional Mexican food that I leaned from my mother and tias. And my objective analysis of Big Star has only gotten worse. I've reached the point in my life where I started to block people's numbers if they said they like Big Star. I don't want sterile people from Naperville and Schaumburg in my life. The food is crap. I wouldn't wish a Big Star taco on my worst enemy. I think it is tragic that they try to pawn this human-feed as Mexican food, and THEN charge SIX DOLLARS PER TACO. It's insulting and the way I see it, a crime against humanity. But other than that their margs are good. read more

Don't order from this location if you want to get everything you ordered. The last several times I have placed an online order major things have been missing. When you call you can't get a hold of anyone. I won't be ordering again from here. read more

I really love going to Big Starr, I always go the location in wicker park, than I found out they had one in Wrigley field. The location in wicker is very funny and exciting but always so packed. The Wrigley field location is little more modern and very laid-back I love it. The view of Wrigley Stadium is amazing because your directly in front of the place. It's a three level building with a barbecue place attached next to it, lots of seating. I love the fact that you can go in and out of both restaurants so freaking amazing what a nice set up. Ask for the service It's More personal than wicker park where everybody's everywhere and it's craziness. I love the wicker park location it just depends on what type of vibe you're looking for, if you looking for more of the party in big groups go to Wicker Park. If your looking for more of the just chill vibe, date night , business meeting etc, go to Wrigley field. read more

Big Star - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Always a great time here. The tacos are fantastic and full of flavor and the cocktails are also great. It's a fun atmosphere on a Cubs game day as well. read more

We are in Wrigley often during this summer and this place is always busy during games. This was actually our first time going and we will be back for sure. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were awesome. They seemed to have a nice beer selection too which was a plus as a lot of places down there do not. And they carry quite a lot of other stuff too. I had the big star nachos (w/out meat or beans), my husband had the walking taco (which he still raves about), and the queso fundido. No complaints on the food whatsoever. Great clean atmosphere as well. read more

Big Star - Big Star Nachos (full size) w/out meat or beans - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was pretty good and came out quickly, but wasn't hot. It was lukewarm at best. The staff was nice, although we didn't get everything we ordered, but got charged for it. For the price, it's just meh. Wouldn't eat there again. read more

First off, it is so great to be back in Chicago. This restaurant did exactly what I needed it to do. Dan Senior and I went to the Chris Stapleton concert at Wrigley Field. We stopped at this great restaurant for some drinks and nachos. The nachos were the bomb. Absolutely delicious. They were covered in pork shoulder along with pico, sour cream, avocado, jalapeños, and beans. I would 100% recommend buying the nachos if you stop at Big Star. God Bless America and God Bless Food, Dan Hanis read more

Big Star - Chips & Salsa - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I came here for the first time after hearing rave reviews about the place. Nice location so close to Wrigley Field. Ambiance: Dim, lively but not too loud. A lot of groups of friends. Service: We were able to do a walk-in and was seated right away. The waiter was great. He explained the menu and was fast in taking our order and bringing out the food. Food: We both ordered tacos. I got the Panza and Carne Asada while my friend got the same two as well as Chorizo. They were delicious! All of them had enough meat and great flavor. The Panza was both of our favorites. We love pork belly. I also asked for mine without cilantro and they were able to accommodate. Overall it was a fast dine-in experience but I would come back again. Side note: where's the bathroom? read more

Big Star - Top: Taco de Carne Asada and Taco de Panza w/o cilantro Bottom: Taco de Chorizo Verde, Taco de Carne Asada, and Taco de Panza - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I dined at Big Star after an evening at the Christmas Market. It was a Sunday evening and the establishment wasn't too crowded. There was a youth birthday party taking place, several families dining, and many people around the bar watching the various Sunday football games. Our waitress was sweet and attentive. I found the menu limiting. My husband had three tacos. I ordered the beans and the melted cheese so I could make my own quesadillas. Several reviews mentioned that when you are in large groups that they serve everything in baskets and you don't know what is what - I would not enjoy that. It is a nice open place with more seating and an additional bar upstairs for when they have more business - I suspect this place can get busy and loud. I'm glad that I was able to try it - but I don't think the informal nature of the establishment is my cup of tea. I do think it would be a good place to hang out with friends for a beer and tacos for an informal gathering. read more

Big Star - We just saw KC beat the Patriots at Big Star!!! Go Chiefs! Amazing!! Good venue to catch a game! - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here last night for the first time and it was pretty good, but not my favorite. I ordered three carne asada tacos and they weren't full of flavor, but they also weren't TOTALLY flavorless. I honestly wish I tried three different kinds of tacos instead of having three of the same, especially because you pay per taco; they do not come in a meal or with any sides. My friends and fiance had different kinds and said they were all pretty good, but my friend agreed with me and said the carne asada was her least favorite kind and that she's had better. I drank a bloody mary, and WOW, the bloodys are awesome here. They are so spicy and have some type of bbq flavor in there. Lucky for us, it was crowded, but not crazy, so we did not have to wait for a table terribly long. We also got our food pretty fast and our waitress was very nice and attentive. Not sure what her name was, but she was a blonde younger girl (such a helpful description, I know hahaha). If I ever come back here, I would love to try the carnitas taco and the walking taco that is made in a Fritos bag. The aesthetic of the place is pretty nice and is much bigger than it looks just walking in. The upstairs area is super nice, too, and the only reason I saw the upstairs was because the bathrooms are located up there. There were whiskey barrels scattered around, and the place in general is bourbon and tequila focused. When we walked in, there was a bouncer guy who carded all of us, and I see that this was off-putting to some people who reviewed this place, but I thought it was pretty standard, especially in Wrigleyville. Rather than bartender/waitress checking everyone's IDs, this step is complete as you walk in. One annoying thing for our table was that there were five people in our group, and they put everyone's tacos together in baskets and when our food came, the girl serving the food (not our waitress) quickly pointed to each taco and said what they were, as if we could remember what each one was. She actually said the wrong thing for some of the tacos, and then had to correct herself. We could barely even tell which was which because the place is very dimly lit with a red tint. We figured it out, though. I would come back here, but maybe I will check out the Wicker Park one next to compare. read more

Big Star - Carne asada tacos and bloody mary - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lunch right across the street from Wriggly. Service was fast and food was definitely fresh and made to order! We all loved the chips and guacamole! The order came out "family style" which was strange to me but I'm sure it's a way to save dishes. When the server put all of our tacos down, we couldn't tell what was what after he left...negative side effect of "family style" service I guess. Only other negative was they could not split the check 2 ways for some reason. Pork belly taco was great. The corn elote was great also! The walking taco was cool and such a fun concept. I would definitely take a few walking tacos to go next time! read more

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I'll give them 2 stars for location and that's pretty much the only good thing about this place. Their guac is below average and they give you such a small amount. Their chips are below average. Their staff is nothing special. Their margaritas are $14 and they are not worth it, I'd rather be sober. Also their tacos are sodium bombs. NO THANK YOU. Go to Cafe El Tapatio instead. read more

Big Star - Chips & Guacamole - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I honestly don't know how this place stays open. My girlfriend and I stopped in yesterday before the Cubs game and we both sat at the bar. The bartenders passed us up multiple times and not once did anyone ask us if we wanted something to drink. Instead, we had to look at the bartender and ask her if we can get service. We then decided to order the nachos which was not worth the $20 we paid. The cheese and meat were both cold. I remember the first time I went to pick start and enjoy the food, but the service and the quality of the food has completely went down. Sad to say, that are built ended up being $100. read more

Big Star - a shot of a drink and a figurine - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for happy hour and no specials. I got the chicken taco, we got some chips and salsa app, and drinks. The drinks were way overpriced. The salsa and chips and tacos were not good and overpriced. No happy hour specials. I wouldn't come back as there are some better options in the area. read more

Whiskey List is very good!! Definitely try the The Walking Taco you will not be disappointed. read more

Big Star - The Walking Taco - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I guess if you come here after a game and are extremely intoxicated and don't care this is the place for you. We ordered and in less than two minutes out food was delivered. Seriously it took longer when when we requested utensils. Do no return list for me. read more

Took my husband here for his birthday monday night and we both got food poisoning..... again! We love this place but the last time we ate there we got sick too and thought it was a fluke. We thought it was sus when our fish tacos came out in less than a minute and they were not warm. I'm done! this place isn't worth the vomiting and bathroom time for one plate of tacos and overpriced mezcal. read more

Had a really good time at Big Star. Drinks were decent ( on par with anyplace close to Wrigley), and the tacos were actually good. Was surprised for sure. No, not authentic tacos, but very tasty. Pastor, shrimp and fish were the three we chose, and they worked. My guess is that the shrimp and fish were fried a second time to serve, but the were still good, if a bit over done. We were also there at a slow time in the 5th inning. I'd go back for sure when I bail on a game because it's just too hot, or the Cubs are making me sad. read more

Big Star - Solid spins on tacos. Shrimp, fish and pastor here. Glad we stopped in for sure, and was pleasantly surprised! - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never again. Horrible service and food. Guacamole insanely salty and way too much lime. Nachos had some white loose creamy cheese with flecks of burnt onions on it. Bland chewy beef like gum. Walking taco made me want to walk out. Nasty. Barely any beans and a bag of hot mush.. Spicy and no other flavor. Beef taco was crazy spicy but the beef again was the texture of chewing gum. Bill 86 dollars. 3 tacos, nachos, 2 sodas and one tequila seriously for horrible food and service? Please go somewhere else and support a local family business. How is this place across from Wrigley and surviving! read more

Not all that impressive. Can't say anything was all that memorable, as it was pretty standard fare. But they have good service and a decent location across from Wrigley. Lunch here with colleagues was pretty standard and also pricey. We shared chips salsa and guac. Our mains were 8 tacos across 3 individuals. Carne asada was flavorful but the meat seemed tough still. It was $80 after tip. Kudos on great in-house habanero hot sauce. read more

This is my go to bar I go to when I am waiting for the Cubs game to start or a concert. The drinks are strong and delicious. They have a good variety of beer and cider. I love the pear cider! The set up is cute. They have a lot of seating around the bar. The bartenders are awesome here! The food is not so good. It's your typical bar food. read more

Big Star - Having a drink with the girls - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Big Star is a fun place to stop for food after a Cubs game or if you are otherwise in the area of Wrigley Field. It is a HUGE space with an exterior patio and balcony as well as a large interior ground floor and upstairs. There is a huge bar on the ground floor and an average sized but full bar on the second floor. On a warm spring day, the place was open roll-up doors, so it felt like an indoor-outdoor space. I read about this place in American Tacos by Jose R. Ralat. It was worth scheduling in connection with going to a Cubs game. The chips were pretty standard, but they were served with freshly prepared guacamole and tasty red and green salsas. With that being said, you need to order the queso fundido. DANG! Chorizo and peppers and onions under a thick layer of melty, white cheese with thick and fresh corn tortillas hecho a mano. These were so delicious. My LO ordered the "kids" nachos (HUGE plate) with pork belly. OMG! I thought that I died and went to heaven. They even had jalapenos. Not very kid friendly except for one like mine but SO delicious. Nice crunchy tacos with lots of generous toppings and excellent, smooth and runny queso that tasted fresh. I went with the zanahorias taco and the Brussels tostada. The zanahorias taco was tasty, but a bit on the sweet side. The salsa from the chips was a welcome added zing. The tostada, however, was one of the best things at the table. A crunchy tostada base with refried black beans topped with crispy brussels sprouts and then poblano crema, pickled chilis and cilantro. It is crunchy, earthy, salty, umaminess. I also tasted the al pastor and pork belly tacos at the table, which were also delicious. That pork belly was so tender - blew my mind. The bourbon selection was outstanding, and the cocktails were well made and on point. The service was generally attentive. The restaurant was clean (very utilitarian, urban vibe). I would definitely come again. read more

We were a group of 10 for a 30 th birthday. We ordered food and it came out on three trays with everyone's tacos mixed together. The food was cold and the meat was hard to chew. Worst Mexican food I've ever had! The service was good. read more

Drinks inconsistent-and overpriced Tacos- Everything about them is bad,no flavor,bad tortilla,not hot ,,absolutely not worth $6 Service mediocre read more

I love tacos and I've been wanting to try this place for a while. Came here yesterday with my friend after work around 3:30p and there was only a handful of people there. Was greeted right away by the bartender. They layout is huge with the bar being in he middle of her room which is nice. Food: We had the chips and guacamole. I've had better Guam but the tortilla chips were fresh and warm which was nice, the salsa was good as well. I ordered the carne asada which is my favorite but not everyone makes them the best, unfortunately this was one of these places. The meat really didn't have any flavor to them which one of the reasons this taco was lacking flavor. That also put pinto beans on the taco which I just don't like. I feel like a good carne asada taco is just meat, onions, cheese and cilantro. I also ordered a pescado which is fried tilapia, it was a really good taco and had nice flavor to it, I'll definitely come back for that. read more

Big Star - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A fan favorite! This is a go-to for my friends and me since we live so close by. I love sitting outside on their open patio in the summer or even on a cool fall evening. The service here can be iffy at times--we've had experiences where we go 20+ minutes without seeing our server--but the good times outweigh the bad for sure. The menu is on the smaller side, but they definitely have honed in on their strengths with what they do have. The spicy margarita is a must--we usually do a pitcher which is a little pricey, but I recommend it if you are all down to drink the same thing and to save some $ instead of buying separate ones. The tacos are SO GOOD. Honestly I've had almost all of them and you can't go wrong. Plus, a perk is that you can mix and match which is great. I also love the salad--so delicious! Overall I am so happy this is in the neighborhood and I can guarantee we'll be back for our Friday afternoon Margs soon! read more

Came here on a quiet afternoon for a snack and to get out of the cold. We split chips and salsa and then I had the flautas. I loved that the flautas were meat-free! The cheese was delicious. The salsas were smokier than I'm used to, but not bad. Overall a decent meal. read more

Big Star - Flautas - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time at this location on Labor Day, and it was pretty busy, but not as busy as the other restaurants in the area. Our server greeted us at the host stand (it seemed that they were pretty short-staffed since he was the server for half the restaurant on the first floor and also manned the host stand). We did not need a reservation, and was seated right away. Ambiance: We sat right by the windows and had a nice breeze as we dined. Food: We ordered the queso to share. 2.5/5 - the dip was overcooked and stuck to the cast-iron dish. The tortilla was cold (perhaps it was a chilly day and all the windows were opened and it got cold by the time it reached our table?!). Barbocoa (3.5/5) and Al Pastor (3/5). Both tacos were okay, but again it came to the table cold, so I feel like I can't give a fair rating. Either way, each dish is kind of small for the price you pay, but you're in Wrigleyville! So I would order at least 2-3 tacos for yourself. Service: very slow! They indicated that there was a limit of 90 minutes per table, but never came back to check on us to see if we were ready for the check! We had to beg someone to come over to ring us up so we can leave! read more

I have no words, just wow. amazing dining experience thanks to tracy. Will come back soon.

Good service, good food, great atmosphere; definitely coming back soon! Thank you Tracy!

Definitely a 10/10 experience. Tracy was such a great help with the menu, drinks and keeping the place fresh and fun.