Chicago Taco Authority

If you're looking for authentic tacos, this place is absolutely worth the trip. Between the…read moreincredible Selena mural outside and the fact that it's tucked inside a liquor store, the whole experience feels like discovering a hidden gem. I eat a lot of tacos, and this was, without question, the best pollo (chicken) taco I've ever had. I was expecting the usual dry, bland, or overcooked chicken, but instead it was incredibly juicy, packed with flavor, and generously loaded with meat. Every bite was outstanding. The only downside was the wait time, but once the food arrived, it was easy to see why people are willing to wait. If you're a taco lover, this is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back.

This is a small liquor store that also sells tacos. The tacos were good and had plenty of flavor,…read morebut the service was extremely slow. There were no other customers, yet we still waited about 20 minutes for only two tacos. The food was worth trying, but the wait time definitely needs improvement.

The kitchen. Order here and take ticket up front to pay

Tacos de asada

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Tacos de asada y al pastor

Birrieria Zaragoza

4.6(132 reviews)

3.9 mi•Uptown

Really good birria here!! The meat was so tender and juicy and the tortillas were amazingly soft…read more They definitely make their which I love. There is limited seating if you have a large group I'd recommend taking it out. If you have a smaller group there may be a wait. But the staff were extremely nice and we love this spot.

Tacos de cabeza 10/10 algo de otro mundo! Taco de cabeza…read more10/10 out of this world! Birria 9.5/10 Las tortillas hechas a mano 10/10 Hand made tortillas 10/10 Flan 10/10 100% recomiendo la Birrieria Zaragoza! Calidad y sazón en su punto. I 100% recommend Birrieria Zaragoza! The quality and seasoning are spot on.

Restaurant hours on 10/22/2023

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Tacos on the making, on plain sight

Taco Loco Of Pilsen

4.8(89 reviews)

7.4 mi

A true taste of Mexico away from Mexico. These tacos were so delicious and authentic and they don't…read moreskimp on the meat. We tried asada, pollo, and al pastor and they were all a hit. The meat is made to order and the salsas are so good. You get a variety of spice levels. Take them to go or eat them in your car! This is an outdoor taco stand so there's no seating available.

Great burrito. It was large and ready super fast. He cooked it on the griddle so the cheese was…read moremelted. Easy, quick, flavorful, and totally hit the spot. Fair price too. You won't be disappointed by this place. I would hit it often if I was nearby.

Carne asada y pollo

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Taqueria Tayahua

4.4(154 reviews)

7.7 mi

I thought to myself, I haven't had suadero tacos in a long time so it was time to try Taqueria…read moreTayahua. It's a specific taco meat cut common mostly in CDMX and hard to find elsewhere, and I was happy to taste those flavors again, though sadly not at CDMX prices. They also have some truly Mexican items - nopal, huiltlacoche, flor de calabaza, huaraches, guisado, chile relleno, and so on. I'm talking about stuff you usually find in a mercado in Mexico. Great place to try real Mexico City flavors if you're feeling nostalgic or never tried before. Wasn't too busy either that night.

I've found my favorite taco place! I ordered the Al pastor and lengua tacos. It was so tender and…read morejuicy. There are tables to dine in the front and back area. I came here with a friend for lunch and service was quick. You can order at the front or they'll take your order when you're seated. You'll pay at the front when you're done.

Chicken tacos.

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Outside entrance.

Velvet Taco

4.2(1.9k reviews)

6.4 mi•Near North Side

Had a really great experience here! We ordered the Quesa Birria Tacos, which came with a small side…read moreof consommé for dipping, the Spicy Tahini Salmon, the Spicy Tikka Chicken, and the Elote with chips. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The meats were especially juicy and well-seasoned, and each dish had great flavor. Service was quick, and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Overall, a fantastic meal, and I'd definitely come back again!

Came late here after a fun day and drinking and you know how rinks…read moreYou gotta get tacos We found this spot It's very hip gourmet which well as you know what ya gonna get They were fine nothing crazy but it was an experience Didn't get photos

6.4 mi•West Loop, Near West Side

Velvet Taco 8

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Velvet Taco 1

Tacombi

4.0(211 reviews)

I was craving a shrimp burrito so I decided to come here. I have walked past this place many times…read morebut never tried it. I stopped by with my pup to order shrimp burrito to go. Evelyn greeted us right away and placed my order. I asked for spicy salsa so she recommended the gobernador salsa which was a green spicy salsa made with poblanos. Evelyn was so sweet! She gave my puppy a treat and also brought out a bowl of water for him while we waited for the food. The inside of the restaurant was really cute and colorful and they had a separate bar area for drinks. I decided to order a spicy michelada with Pacifico beer while waiting. The bartender was super nice and made my drink quickly. It was the perfect amount of spice and was so refreshing! My burrito came out quick for how packed the inside of the restaurant was. The burrito was a good size and was so fresh and tasty! The gobernador salsa was delicious. I can't wait to go back and try something different and this time dine in.

My aunt introduced me to Tacombi yesterday, and I am so glad she did! The restaurant is really cute…read moreinside, and the food was so good. I had the Mexican street corn to start and then the lunch special with two tacos, rice, and beans. I got the carne asada and crispy fish taco. The carne asada is simple with just steak and onions, but so good! The sauce and the cabbage on the crispy fish taco is really good too. I usually don't love a corn tortilla, but these tacos were so flavorful that the corn tortilla was perfect.I also had the watermelon agua fresca, and it was refreshing and not too sweet. One of the staff members, Chris, was such a vibe. He greeted us friendly and professional as soon as we walked and came over later to check on us, and chatted with me and my aunt. Our waitress was amazing too, and several other staff members stopped by to check on us throughout our meal. Exceptional service like this can be hard to find so I really appreciated it. For me, it's a 5 out of 5 because the food and the service are equally great. I highly recommend! I forgot to take pictures but take my word for it lol.

Full liquor & juice bar

Churros con Xocolate.

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Corn Esquites.

L' Patron Tacos

3.9(652 reviews)

2.1 mi•Logan Square

Burrito ala deabla, con shrimp. Highly recommend. In general the tacos are delicious…read more Environment is great and working personal are super nice. Been a customer for over years now. Bar inside which is a plus. Bathrooms are always clean. Five star all around and a must check out!! Dine in or sit outside

My first time here, and it was such a great experience. Delicious food and a really fun vibe!…read more We walked in around 12:30pm Saturday, and even though the place was pretty packed, we were seated right away! I ordered the Paloma, and my husband got the Michelada, both super refreshing and made well. For food, I ordered the El Gringo with rice and salad. I definitely wish I had swapped the salad for beans, because my husband got both rice and beans, and I ended up finishing my rice and helping with his too lol. Highly recommend this dish, just go for the beans instead of the salad! My husband also ordered three tacos: Al Pastor, Chorizo, and Carne Asada, all of which were really good. One of the fun touches is that they have QR codes at the table to leave a Google review, and if you do, you get to spin a prize wheel. Of course I had to try it, and it made the whole experience even more fun. I ended up winning a free double shot! The staff were all super friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the music gave it a fun, vibrant atmosphere. I'd definitely come back!

Inside

Al Pastor Taco

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Dining area of L' Patron

Taqueria Primo Chukis Uptown

4.3(392 reviews)

3.4 mi•Ravenswood

Love this place!! Great neighborhood taco place!…read more Ordered here for a company lunch...and they were able to make us over 60 tacos and sides in an hour! Not only are they quick, the flavor is great. Their salsa's are so tasty, especially the red one. Their carnitas taco is defintely the best! So flavorful, tender, and juicy. The staff are also really nice, and the ambiance is so cute on the inside! My company will definitely order tacos again from here! Come check them out if you're nearby!

Authentic and delicious…read more This has been our go-to lunch spot for my co-workers and I, whenever we decide to eat out. I've tried different proteins for the tacos: STEAK, LENGUA (tongue), TRIPA (tripe), PASTOR (pork), and BISTECK. They are all delicious, tender, juicy, well-prepared and well-seasoned. The lime, cilantro, and onions on each taco are fresh and give so much flavors. The rice and beans that come with the entrees are so good as well. Service is always friendly and efficient. The place is neat, the bathroom is clean, and the prices are very reasonable. I will never get tired of coming here to eat. I heard that their margaritas are worth trying too. I'll try those after work hours ;)

Taqueria Primo Chukis Uptown - Primo Chuki's by Night . Ravenswood/Uptown .(Ashland/Lawrence Ave) Tacos Burritos Tortas Quesadillas Enchiladas etc. Fast Service. Cool!

Primo Chuki's by Night . Ravenswood/Uptown .(Ashland/Lawrence Ave) Tacos Burritos Tortas Quesadillas Enchiladas etc. Fast Service. Cool!

Chips and Salsa

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Seating and flat screens

Taco Maya

4.3(201 reviews)

6.8 mi•Near North Side

Looks like a very clean unauthentic Mexican joint. Wrong…read more Extremely clean. Great horchata. Excellent chicken fajita steaming! Good salsa and chips. Liked the rice and didn't get beans. Very satisfying meal.

This place is super unassuming from the outside, but the food is so good it'll have you ready to…read moredance. We ordered a ton, including the Tuesday taco plate with fries. I got the chicken tinga, steak, and samosa taco. The steak was good but nothing crazy, the chicken tinga was *so* flavorful, and the samosa taco (which was recommended to me) ended up being my favorite. Whatever sauce they put on it was amazing. The fries were surprisingly good too. really well seasoned with a slight kick. We also shared elotes and guac, and both were solid. Honestly, this spot is a strong 4.5/5 and definitely worth checking out. The servers were really nice. Someone had trouble ordering in their food and they helped us out.

Inside

Birria Taco & Soup*

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Margarita flight

Taqueria El Asadero

4.1(745 reviews)

2.6 mi•North Center

¡Orale! This place is the real deal! You must bring cash though!!…read more It was recommended to me and to try their carne asada burrito. Good lord, it's a meal and there's plenty of meat to feel full by eating 1/2. So with that being said that should ease the cost of the burrito by being able to get 2 meals out of it. I think it was $12.50 or 15.50 or something close to that. Also I think it's best served by eating there because you get some chips and 2 salsas at the table. Parking is kinda tough and since they don't deliver, you must go there!! Remember - cash only!!

Located in downtown Ravenswood, this Mexican restaurant seemed very hidden (hard to tell if it was…read moreopen). Interior was very basic, so was the menu - it included burrito, tacos and some simple entries. However, the price wasn't low (e.g. $4.5 for a taco). The portion was decent. The meat tasted cheap for the price. Service was quick and friendly.

Employees must wash hands. You should too, don't be gross!

Steak taco

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Carne Asada

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15 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Michael M.

10 months ago

It saddens me to give 3 stars, this restaurant used to be a 4.5-5 when they opened. It was a needed addition to the community. But today in 2025 they really have lost their flavor, literally. I used to come here for the chicken tinga tacos once a week, but it's been over 9 months until today since I visited. First, they no longer add avocados to the tinga which in my opinion complemented the slow cooked tinga. They also used to adorn the taco with crispy tortilla strips adding texture with every bite, now it seems you're lucky to get 1-2 strips and they are soggy. The chicken tinga itself is lacking some of the original flavors or recipe from a few years ago, I can't put my finger on it but it lacks the complexity and flavor profile which had me raving to all my friends in other neighborhoods to come to this little spot on Irving Park road. They've also raised prices from 3 to 5, which I understand inflation, and I remember when they opened a $3 taco was at the upper limits of street food, but it was worth it. You were met with a truly unique flavor and now at 5, the value for taste experience just isn't there. The sweet spot I feel is $4 for these tacos or reevaluating what happened to the quality since opening. I don't want to see a local business fail, and with a very small menu as it is, everything on the menu should be outstanding. I will also agree with another post which suggested there was a off-putting smell. As someone who has worked in the service industry many careers ago, this is reminiscent of dirty mop water used to clean grease from floors. I hope I can come back here and make a future update that things have turned around, as I really want this place to succeed. read more

Jana R.

8 years ago

Well I tried this place awhile ago and wasn't impressed. Neighbors urged me to go again.. I tried a salad and again wasn't impressed, kind of like chipotle. My kids got the Tinga, I tried a little - kind of reminded me of the stuff I used to push aside on my plate at the school cafeteria. My kids like the inside, and the owner put a lot of effort into it it seems... but honestly after spending 45 min on a train smelling old pee coming home, I don't necessarily want to be reminded of that while eating my dinner. It was kind of a novelty-Don't know that we'll be back. read more

Eddie S.

8 years ago

I tried this place out today on my way home and I must say that I must give it a thumbs down. They took Too long for my order and than I order 2 steak burrito and they gave me bunch of rice and beans with very few pieces of meat. I understand the place wants to make money but come on really . See pictures it is horrible on what they provided. Never will I go here again neither will any of my friends. read more

Cesar O.

9 years ago

The chili burrito was perfect both times i had it here. I would recommend it! Prices are kinda high but the quality is here. Im Picky about my Mexican food esp. burritos as you can tell with my past reviews of some other places around here. Bathroom had long line, the location can be a little rough around the edges. read more

Jess D.

8 years ago

My husband and I stopped here last week for dinner... and we're so happy we did! We only had the fish and the tinga chicken but they were both so good. We'll definitely be back!! read more

Greg S.

5 years ago

have been here more than 30 times and they never disappoint. all tacos great but the shrimp, fish, and chicken tinga stand out. taco salad also superb great staff. byob. read more

Rey B.

8 years ago

Really great and fast. The food was fresh and the place was busy. Having a good number of people eating at a place is always a good sign and I wasn't disappointed. read more

Rey E.

8 years ago

Great quality meat!!!! My wife and I went for the first time yesterday and fell in love . I think this is our new spot !!! And it's BYOB

Cesar J.

7 years ago

Very good food. The staff is very friendly and they are very fast to serve the food. I would recommend to anyone.

Nick J.

310

5 years ago

First time eating tacos from here and they were good as fuck. Will b stopping by next time I'm in the area.

Andrea R.

7 years ago

This place is great! The food is amazing and the customer service is great as well! I will be coming back!

Maegan M.

8 years ago

First time here, enjoyed the Al Pastor and the Loaded Elote was great. Plan on coming back soon

Elizabeth P.

116

9 years ago

Food is amazing!!! The staff is very professional and friendly!! I will definitely be back!

Samantha S.

4 years ago

Absolutely fantastic. Great food, atmosphere, and owner/staff!

Erick D.

5 years ago

The chicken and shrimp were AMAZING!

Chicago Taco Authority - tacos - Updated September 2026

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Simon Tacos

3.8

(264 reviews)

Some of the best steak that I ever had in the area. Service was quick and friendly. Highly…read morerecommended.

Wow! The quality of their food has really gone down. I ordered the three steak taco meal. The tacos…read morewere so greasy and the meat was not good. This place used to have quality tasty meat. It was so greasy and the meat tasted like greasy ground beef. The rice and beans was the best part. The steak burrito was the same as the tacos. Greasy and had that greasy chopped beef flavor. Not only that they have gotten lazy . There was literally a whole leaf of lettuce in the burrito. not even chopped. Prices went up and the quality went down. This was really disappointing because it was my go to neighborhood Mexican establishment I frequented.

Los Asadores Mexican Grill

4.6

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absolutely AMAZING. The food, the ambiance, the service. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! I love this place…read moreso much, the food and the service. Been coming here for 4+ years

Been here a few times. They get busy with lots of takeouts. Food is solid. I had to try the tacos…read more Very juicy and delicious. The green sauce is spicy good. The chicken was ok. The green sauce helped it a bit. The fajitas were tasty and nice portion. You need to order at the counter but they bring food out to you. They have take away specials but won't honor them for eat in. There's parking out front but beware 4-6 can't park there. Overall worth it if you're in the area.

Taqueria los flacos

4.0

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Great experience here. Greeted with hospitality as soon as we walked in. Spacious location with…read moreplenty of seating. Food tasted good and portion sizes were fair as well. Overall no complaints would come back and try other items on the menu.

There was barely any meat/steak in my burrito. Mostly lettuce. And some beans. Same thing with my…read morewife tortas. The place was not busy at all.

No Pasa Nada

4.7

(31 reviews)

This food truck is so great! The meat is ribeye steak and not arrachera (skirt steak) so to some…read moreit may be good. IMO The tacos an are delicious. A very simple menu with only steak and al pastor tacos or quesadilla and for drinks pop or agua frescas The staff is great very friendly. Ambience is fun because it's like you are eating at a family members backyard.

We came in a on a chilly Saturday evening. It was sunny but still a little cold to eat outside. We…read morestill did. Luckily there was one table out front available. The staff here was great. They immediately offered us a a sample of their aguas frescas that they had. We reached tried carne asada taco and their Al pastor taco. Both were good. I honestly prefer skirt steak for carne asada tacos. Here they use ribeye for their carne asada. The carne was very tender and seasoned perfectly. It came with cebolla, cilantro and avocado. The al pastor taco taco was also very delicious. They use yellow corn tortillas and their salsas weren't too spicy but had good flavor. Overall some really good tasting tacos but no where near the best in the city. Will definitely be returning.

Taco Max Mexican Grill

4.1

(61 reviews)

My partner and I always love going to Taco Max because the food is filling and delicious. Whenever…read morewe visit, we tend to go on late afternoons. Not a lot of customers are around, so service was quick and easy for us. Clean restaurant, menus were placed on the tables and you get to choose which table to sit in. Taco Dinners came out very quickly and very hot! Maybe we came in on an off day, but the rice was more bland than usual which is why this visit gets 4 stars. Seems like the prices went up too since we last visited, which we were bummed out about too. I ordered the 2 Taco Dinners for Arrachera (steak). I typically like ordering Al Pastor too but was craving steak. It was delicious and I like pairing it with the green salsa! My partner prefers the red salsa though, especially on the tortilla chips. Overall, this is a solid taco spot. I haven't had a bad experience while dining at Taco Max

This has been a go to place for the past 5 years and the last several visits we were very…read moredisappointed. The food came out in waves and none of it was even warm. We ordered an appetizer (queso fundido) which never came even after I asked about it twice. The server wanted to bring it after we were almost done eating which made zero sense. I cancelled it. My food (3 taco dinner) came out first and everything was cold. My Dad's breakfast skillet came out almost 10 minutes later and was cold and elements of the order were incorrect. I ordered stuff to go early enough and made it clear we wanted it ready when we were ready to leave. But it still wasn't ready 15 minutes after we were ready to leave and it was clear that part of the order was never put in until we were done eating. I would say the biggest problem is the service. The (same) server never writes anything down and has gotten it wrong numerous times. It makes absolutely no sense to not write down the order and even less sense not to have the food come out at the same time and be hot. The restaurant wasn't incredibly busy either. I know every restaurant has bad days, and I'm willing to let one bad day slide. Maybe even a couple. But this is now a pattern. I hate doing it but it's probably time to start searching for a new go to spot. I'm not sure the problem can be fixed.

Birreria El Texcal

4.4

(57 reviews)

For those that enjoy Birria, this will either be your favorite or top five in the city. Here,…read morebirria is made authentic to what's served in the small towns of Mexico. Most birria spots around Chicago prepare their consume with beef to please American tastes. However, the authentic version is produced with goat or lamb. I love that you can buy kits for preparing your own. I usually get the large DIY kit. I have a hot plate /tabletop nonstick electric griddle which I keep on hand for gatherings. I enjoy preparing it my way and preparing it how guests would enjoy. I can shred extra cheese and add on additional toppings. There is a mercado in Avondale where I get tasty salsas and pickled vegetables. They pair so well with this birria. BET has a small restaurant on the corner of Lawrence & Lawndale Avenues. The shop is manned with enough kitchen staff to fulfill daily orders though I'm not sure if they have one person designated as a waiter. So, if dining in, self service will play a major role. It's Lawrence Avenue so you should expect parking may not be close by.

Food 6/10 Service 2/10…read more The food was decent, and I would've even considered going back if the waitress we had wasn't so rude. It wasn't all the waitresses - the one we were dealt just had it out for us, I guess. For example, I didn't know there was complimentary chips and salsa until I saw her handing it out to other tables. She never gave us any. She brought us a vase of water with 1 glass - we were a table of 6. She didn't give us utensils until we asked for them. She knew we intended to share birria, but we had no plates (and utensils) to share it with. We had kids at our table - no plates were brought for the kids at all. At first, I thought she hated us because we had kids, but there were other tables with children too and she seemed pleasant with them. Frankly, there are better birria spots in this city with nicer service so I won't be going back.

La Fogata Mexican Restaurant

3.4

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Fresh food delivered on time as promised (30 min) Chicken Enchiladas with mole sauce (the best!)…read moreChicken burrito (super fresh) andtaco dinner. I really like La Fogata. Its my go-to for Mexican.

The food is 6/10 honestly. Nothing to rave about. I went here recently and ordered a "Bistec en…read moreChile de Arbol." The steak came cut into pieces instead of one large piece of steak like they had on the example picture. Felt like the actual portion of the steak was really small as well. Prices are very high in comparison to the amount that was served. I can think of at least 5 other better Mexican restaurants that will serve bigger portions for a better price...

Iztatl Cocina Mexicana

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Great food! Veggie burrito is good . My teenage kids love the chicken burrito. I highly recommendread more

Clean and brand new layout but lacks personality. Doesn't feel like a mexican restaurant feels like…read moreI'm about to get my taxes done. Besides that the food is priced fairly for being in the city. Horchata: Good flavor not watered down like most places do. Milanesa Torta: Some spots have sad or old looking lettuce or tomatoes but this place had nice fresh ingredients. Breading was nice and crispy, not soggy which is a common problem with milanesa. Asada Burrito Meat is a bit tough and seasoning could be a bit better.

Tatas Tacos - Original Six Corners

3.5

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Good food and good people…read more The veggie/vegan fajitas were delicious. The seasoning on the cauliflower was perfect. My friend ordered a few different tacos and enjoyed them. Service was a bit slow for just two tables and the waitress was lovely, but she was forgetful and there was miscommunication about a drink order. All said, I'll be back for the vegan options.

My friends and I came here for the first time not too long ago, and we had a pretty good…read moreexperience. Thankfully, the weather was beautiful when we came, so we asked to sit outside on their small patio. Sadly, our table was sticky and very dirty when they initially sat us down, so we had to ask the waitress to wipe it down for us. She did without hesitation, but it was offputting that she would sit us at such a dirty table in the first place. As you can probably tell, we did have good service all night, too. When looking at the menu, there are many options to choose from: tacos, fajitas, enchiladas... you know, the normal Mexican restaurant stuff. However, they do have some unique options that many do not offer, such as birria beef grillers and fried ice cream. My friends and I all ordered drinks, and I enjoyed my regular-sized classic lime margarita with a tajin rim ($14). One of my friends ordered a medium-sized hibiscus margarita ($20) and didn't like it very much, but my other friend who ordered a Mariposa ($12) which was "passion fruit, mineral water, vodka, simple syrup, and berries", and she enjoyed hers a lot. For a little appetizer, my friends and I all ordered elote ($5 each). We all agreed that it was the best-tasting elote we have ever had. The corn was cooked perfectly, not too soft and not too hard, and there was a perfect measurement of lime, mayo, and cheese. It was amazing. We also shared chips and guac ($12). This was good and chunky but was missing flavor. It tasted fresh and you can tell it was made in-house, but all it tasted like was avocado with cilantro and onion. There was no pico on it even though the menu claimed it came on top, and it didn't taste seasoned or taste like any lime was in the ingredients. For dinner, I ordered a steak original burrito ($12). When I got my burrito, my first thought was that it was small and not filled very much. The steak was delicious and everything mixed well together, but there wasn't much in there to make it worthwhile. I must admit, the prices aren't too high, and $12 for a burrito isn't bad at all, especially because normally steak is a more expensive meat option. However, when I think about being able to get a HUGE burrito elsewhere, and I get half the amount of filling here, it's a bit disappointing. I have a picture of how I received the burrito attached to this review so you can see for yourself. One of my friends ordered the birria taco plate ($16) and she loved them; my other friend ordered a fish taco ($5) and an al pastor taco ($5), both of which she thought were pretty good. Overall, this wouldn't be my first choice of Mexican cuisine, but I would like to order something else from their menu one day, so I am sure I will return sooner or later.

Taqueria La Fogata

4.1

(61 reviews)