We originally stopped for another location but they happened to be closed. Taqueria San Jose was…read moreopen! The space is spacious and has an authentic look to it. The service was normal, I can see them being a tad bit slower if it got busy. The food was mid, the flavors were there but it didn't shine all the way through. It was decent but not a place a would come back to.

I think they're always a solid choice for a Mexican restaurant that is open late, infinitely better…read morethan say Taco Burrito King. I love 3 items from here: 1. Fresh fried chips. I salt them to my liking and they hold up the next day. 2.carne asada tacos are seasoned.the cilantro and onion are finely Chopped and I particularly like their red sauce with these tacos. 3. Nachos are totally worth getting. Please note that these are not text mex style nachos so no cotija or pickled onions but they have plenty of meat and cheese and jalapenos. I skip the tomato and my husband skips the sour cream (:() If you're looking for traditional yellow nacho cheese, dont get these nachos. If you're hungry and want a heaping pile of meat and cheese with some jalapenos these are great! What I'm neutral about: Their rice is bland. Their beans taste re-refried. Not always but more often than not. I have no complaints except for the slighly damp smell. It always feels a bit stuffy when dining in so i mostly get takeout. My order is prompt and the waitresses are direct and polite overall.

Amazing food, staff very friendly. Not crowded nice to watch the food get made. The al pastor tacos…read morewere definitely my favorite

Absolutely the best authentic tacos around, bar none. Lingua, when they have it, is outstanding…read morealthough my favorite is the al pastor. The daily special is a steal, but limits you to 1 meat choice for your 3 tacos. Mix and match requires ordering al a carte but does then allow you to order the off menu chorizo y pollo (chorizo and chicken) which is very good also. Portions are large; I'm generally full after 2 tacos and most of my rice & beans on the daily special platter, but I forge on and finish.

Fantastic food, wonderful decor, great service, and some of the best tasting queso around…read more Definitely will be on our regular dining locale rotation.

As of the date of this posting, I have been here twice, and soon to make my third visit. So far, my…read morego-to item is the "Fat San Jose burrito". I absolutely love this thing! They have good food and recommend giving this place a try. Be aware though that they are in a very small strip plaza, and the parking lot is very small, they get very busy at times and there is no place to park.

I absolutely love this grocery store. Walgreens on Chicago is closer to me, but I've given up even…read morechecking if they have what I need because even if they do, it'll be 30% more expensive than it is at San Jose. This market has whatever you need! Most grocery items - especially all things Hispanic AND great customer service for the best prices in the city. The owner told me he checks prices daily to stay competitive and boy does he ever! One time I bought the same things at Walgreens and spent $14 less buying the same things at San Jose which is BONKERS. They also have a deli stand that looks clean. I still haven't purchased anything from there though. The store is jam packed with things so it's not handicap accessible, but I'm sure the employees are willing to help. They're always chatting with locals which I love. Definitely worth stopping here before any major grocer. Support local!

3 bananas, 2 tomatoes Total price: $1.05…read more Places like this make me feel like such a sucker for ever setting foot in a whole foods

Recently, my husband and I celebrated the anniversary of the day we met. We don't always mark the…read moreoccasion, but this year it was a milestone worth celebrating. We chose to dine at Girl & the Goat in Chicago, a restaurant we had never visited before. The acclaimed restaurant by renowned chef Stephanie Izard truly lived up to its stellar reputation! One of the first things we appreciated was the convenience of the restaurant's valet parking, located right by the front patio. At $22 for up to four hours and $26 for four to eight hours, the rates were quite reasonable for the area. As soon as the three of us stepped inside Girl & the Goat (we had made a reservation for 6:30 pm on a Friday), we were warmly greeted by one of the two friendly hostesses, and were promptly led to a comfortable four-top table with a banquette and two chairs along the wall. We felt fortunate to have one of the better tables in the dining room, as some of the others were positioned very close together. The nearby two-top tables, in particular, were quite small and placed only a short distance from ours. The restaurant's rustic-industrial décor was dark but trendy and stylish, the lively and vibrant vibe was warm and welcoming. However, I have to mention that it was really loud in the dining room, as guests seemed to be enjoying themselves and talked loudly.  It was hard to hear our server and the staff who delivered and explained the dishes to us.  Our server, Yazmin, was extremely friendly and attentive.  It was very sweet of her to wish us a happy anniversary both in the beginning  and at the end of the meal.  She also checked in on us several times during the evening.  Now, on to the food and drinks. I started with a glass of the NA Sparkling Rosé ($17), which was light, crisp, and quite refreshing. My husband ordered a glass of Le Colture Prosecco ($18), while our daughter chose the Sun Kid ($18). She enjoyed her drink, although she felt the portion was a bit small, as the glass was filled with a lot of ice that took up much of the space. Since the restaurant offers small to medium plates which are shareable, Yazmin advised us to get 5 to 6 dishes for 3 people to share.  We decided to get 5 savory dishes and 3 desserts to share: Savory dishes: - Chickpea Fritters ($20), goat yogurt, green chutney, sev spice crunch, pickled rhubarb. - Pan Roasted Halibut ($37), miso-Marcona almond butter, spring onion blueberry nuoc cham. - Roasted Pig Face ($28), sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, red wine-maple, potato stix. - Goat Empanadas ($24), smoked tomato-corn salsa, roasted poblano crema queso fresco. - Confit Goat Belly ($38), strawberry goat braise, smoked yogurt drizzle, pickled strawberries. Desserts: - Vacation, Please! ($16), toasted coconut crunch, lemon passion fruit sorbet, rum-soaked pineapple cake. - Berry Yummy Par-tea ($16), earl grey soaked sponge cake, yuzu curd, spiced blackberries. - Chocolate Basil Brownie Bash ($16), olive oil semifreddo, chocolate fennel crunch, basil granita. The meal was just phenomenal!  All the savory dishes were cooked perfectly with bold flavors; the meats were tender and full of flavors.  There were dishes that we normally would not have ordered if we saw them on menus of other restaurants.  Here, we tried them and were delighted that we did!  Our consensus is that Roasted Pig Face is our most favorite! It is everything we love in a comfort dish -- crispy on the outside, meltingly tender inside, and packed with rich, balanced flavor.  We will definitely order this again!  The Confit Goat Belly is a close second, with buttery, fall-apart meat and just the right balance of richness, acidity, and crunch. For dessert, "Vacation, Please!" is the one that we will always come back for. The toasted coconut crunch adds texture, the lemon passion fruit sorbet brings a refreshing tang, and the rum-soaked pineapple cake ties it all together with just the right amount of sweetness.  The other two desserts that we ordered were also very good.  The staff even brought out a scoop of Chocolate Ice Cream on the house, with two lit candles to celebrate our anniversary - a thoughtful touch that made the evening even more memorable.  This dessert spread was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. I'd like to mention that the restaurant added a 4% surcharge to the bill, which the customer may request to have the surcharge remove if you choose.  We let them keep it. We spent about two hours at the restaurant. The savory dishes came out very quickly, the pace probably was even a tad too fast, but the desserts made up for it by taking a longer time.  We did not mind as we were still full, and had time to enjoy the ambiance more.  I would say it is a restaurant great for group gathering and celebratory functions, but not so much for intimate romantic date night.  All in all, it was a wonderful dinner, we look forward to returning again.

I was there the other week (I've been here at least five times before), and a busser--not our…read morewaiter--started clearing both of our plates before we were finished eating. We each only had a couple of bites left, but it definitely gave off an "okay, you're done now" vibe. Then he went to take the green beans (arguably the cult classic on the menu), and we still had more than half of them left. I had to stop him and say, "Yeah, we're not done with those. We paid for them. Can you put them in a to-go box instead?" For context, it was about 20 minutes before closing, but we ordered with plenty of time and were already eating with a "get in, eat, and get out" mindset. I've just never had someone at a restaurant start clearing plates while we were still actively eating--without asking, "Are you finished?" "Can I clear this?" or "Would you like a to-go box?" It was just... "You're done, these are leaving now." We were there for less than 45 minutes, left about 15 minutes before closing, and spent over $200 (not including the tip). With so many options in Chicago, I don't see myself coming back here.

Taco Tuesday will never be the same for these Chicago guys who love good tacos and Lucha Libre…read more Life is God. Family. Tacos. Lucha Libre. Santo Tacos is the new temple of tacos. We drove a long way to get there and we were - initially - put off by the appearance. It kind of looks like a strip mall fast food joint appropriating the Lucha Libre legend El Santo. We walked in - not expecting much and walked out full of great food and great company. This is a must visit for Lucha fans and taco lovers. My last Birria taco was in Puerto Rico at a little hole in the wall that made their name on Birria tacos. I decided to see if this little joint in Valparaiso could compete. I warned Chantal (our server and occasional photographer) that I had high hopes for the Birria. She was unfazed. She knew. She was confident. We started with a nacho plate with salsa and guacamole and warm cheese sauce. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We stuffed out faces as we marveled at the décor. We discussed who was who in which poster and which masks were in our personal collections. When Chantal brought the three tacos to the table, it was clear to see they were of the highest quality, perhaps even better than Puerto Rico. The spices were blended perfectly. The meat was moist and the tortilla was soft where it needed to be and crunchy where it was supposed to be. Fresh food always elevates the dining experience. This food was all fresh and well prepared. I have been having bad luck with smoked jalapenos lately so I only ate half of it. It was also quite good, but I know the danger that lurks in a smoked jalapeno. My buddy got a burrito - it was a monster. He and I have eaten many Mexican dinners before or after a Lucha Libre show. He tends to eat with moderation. Not this time, he destroyed that burrito talking between bites about how good it was. We had Chantal take some pictures around the restaurant at various spots. We're two corny old guys having fun with our hobbies (tacos and Lucha Libre). She was very patient and accommodating - doing everything in her power to get the best pictures she could for us. When the service is five star and the food is five star - the only problem is the distance. We will be back - of course - but sadly not every Tuesday as we'd like.

I was traveling for work and stopped at Santo Taco for lunch. I had no issue finding a parking spot…read moreand was seated right away. In terms of ambiance, the staff was cleaning and the TVs were old (poor quality) and had nothing of interest on. I ordered the poyo taco (loved) and the alambre (hated - the steak was so chewy. I know it's skirt steak, but this was not edible). I also ordered the churros; which were fine. It may be worth going back and ordering something different, but you can also get a taco just about anywhere.

Carbon is one of my favorite taco spots in the Chicagoland area! Their new cantina is beautiful and…read morehas a great atmosphere. I've visited twice during the daytime, and it's been nice and quiet each time. The only downside was the service. On my most recent visit, it was so quiet that our server forgot to bring our checks. After waiting more than 20 minutes, I finally walked over to the bar and asked for it myself. Thankfully, that was the only issue. The food, however, never disappoints. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. My mom absolutely loved her burrito and said it was the best one she's had in a long time. I came for the tacos, and they were incredible--especially paired with an ice-cold bottle of Mexican Coca-Cola! If you're looking for great tacos in the Chicagoland area, Carbon is definitely worth a visit.

The food was extremely fresh and delicious. The fajitas came out and they were steaming and…read moresizzling for a good 10 minutes. It was fresh and flavorful. The restaurant was so cute! The old doors and paintings were so unique and ambiance was relaxed. I highly highly recommend this place!!!!

Very delicious and fresh tacos and the lady she served us. She was very nice and sweet. I really…read morerecommend this place with the new owners. Keep the good work.

Food is ok they have rudest most vulgar staff. They don't care about there customers. Never would…read morego there again.

The menu is misleading--if you order the tamales appetizer you will get a variety of tamales;…read morechicken, pork, I think chorizo (too flavorful for ground beef). If you order the meal you get just one variety. WONDERFUL staff, and warm atmosphere.

EAT HERE! I came with 2 friends and we can't wait to come back. You get chips and 2 kinds of salsa…read more We all got the taco dinner platters and would come back for them. I had 2 steak and one beef and would get all steak next time. The service was great everyone was really friendly. And it's a cute spot! I can't wait to come back!

Supporting this local Chicago AAPI women owned restaurant! Love the seafood boil here! When you…read moreorder veggies they do not skimp with the boil. This is unique because I've actually have not ever had broccoli or green beans with my seafood boil and I would definitely have it again in a heartbeat. I'm in love with the garlic noodles and fries besides the main seafoods. They have so many different deals and promotions, high quality, friendly service! The spot is pretty roomy and can accommodate a variety of different size groups. I also enjoy they provide gloves, a bib, and a sink outside of the bathroom to wash your hands. Hooray for my crazy messiness! Cant wait to go back! Parking can be a challenge but is available in an around the neighborhood.

This was mine and my friends first time here and I'd love to give it 4 starts but there's a few…read morethings I had an issue with. First, the service itself was good, we were seated right away with no reservations, but upon entering the restaurant has a very strong almost mildew like smell. Our server let us know right away that they were short staffed in the kitchen and therefore orders were taking 45 minutes to an hour to come out. Not a problem, we understand and ordered some apps to get us by. The food is why I'm giving it 3 starts. We ordered the calamari, which was soooo overcooked it was tough and chewy, I couldn't even swallow it. We ordered the cajun fries too and they were okay. My partner and I both ordered king crab legs with the house cajun sauce. Let me just say the sauce itself was amazing! Super delicious and tasty, not too salty, very flavorful. But both of our king crab legs were way overcooked, to the point where the meat seemed shrunk, it was very firm and rubbery/gummy. Unfortunately for paying such a high price for 1lb, this was extremely disappointing. Being that 3 seperate dishes were overcooked, I personally wouldn't return for this reason alone. Very disappointed but I feel like this issue can easily be fixed! Hoping to return one day because the flavors were definitely there, but unfortunately not anytime soon.