Now how can you not love a place called velvet taco? Great vegan and meat Mexican food famous for their tacos read more

Velvet Taco is always a flavor party, and this visit didn't disappoint. I had the salmon taco (so fresh!), the Mexi shrimp taco with the perfect kick, plus the guac and an elite dip and everything was seriously so delicious. The salmon taco was light but still super satisfying, and the Mexi shrimp taco was loaded with flavor without being overwhelming. The guac was creamy and fresh, and the chips were perfectly crisp. But the loaded dip?? SO good. Rich, flavorful, and one of those things you keep picking at even when you're already full. The inside is pretty casual and just okay, nothing too special, but since the weather was nice, the outdoor seating made the experience way better. I will say, other Velvet Taco locations I've been to have better seating overall. There's also paid parking right outside, which is convenient but something to keep in mind. Overall, really solid spot for flavorful tacos and a fun, quick bite. I'd definitely come back. Service was also super friendly! read more

Velvet Taco - Mexi-Cali Shrimp Nashville Hot Tofu Grilled Salmon - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

e stopped into Velvet Taco in Chicago with our kids and had a really solid experience overall. It's a fun, casual spot that works great for a quick lunch or afternoon snack. The chips and guac were good, and we tried all three vegetarian tacos--they were all flavorful and enjoyable. It's a nice option if you're looking for something quick but still tasty. Service was excellent--friendly, easygoing, and no fuss, which we appreciated with kids in tow. The seating is mostly high tops on the main level, though I noticed there may be an upstairs seating area that we didn't explore. They also have a fun setup with large bottles of hot sauce available at the counter so you can customize your heat level. Overall, a convenient and tasty stop in Chicago, especially for a casual bite. read more

So slow at lunch and they don't care. They just let people stack up while they do catering orders.

I've wanted to try this place and it did not disappoint. I was in the area shopping with my son and stumbled upon it. We weren't very hungry so I just ordered two tacos to sample ; ) I had the chicken tikka masala taco and the Buffalo chicken taco. The tikka masala one was amazing! It was so unique too as it had crispy chicken with tikka masala sauce and a small rice bed beneath. This is a must try! The buffalo chicken one was also amazing, but didn't stand up to the tikka one. The person at the counter wasn't friendly or welcoming so I give 4/5 stars. We went on Saturday, 8/16, around 3pm. Will return! read more

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No complaints here! I got a rotisserie chicken taco (not pictured) and a chicken tikka taco. Both were delicious and way bigger than I expected. Two definitely hit my late night hunger spot. I also heard good comments about the battered fish taco. They're open still 2am right by the bars so it's a perfect late night meal. read more

Velvet Taco - Spicy Tikka Chicken taco (right) and fish left - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My bestie and I came here to refuel while on a bar crawl. The tacos were delicious. Fast friendly service. We will definitely be back.

Great little place to go for some late-night snacks after a night out in West Loop. The tacos are delicious! Very small place and it can get packed, but well worth the wait. Recommend! read more

Are you in need of some late night grub after a night of clubbing? If you are, this is the place to go. The line moves fast and the food is cheap and delicious! read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was here on the 14th right before closing and as they were making orders and closing down one of the staff members was eating food off the line while preparing orders. She never changed her gloves or tried to conceal what she was doing. When I mentioned it to the other staff member she just told her to stop making orders. I frequent this restaurant and it's kind of sad to witness this type of unsanitary practices. I received my food and left but it made it hard to eat knowing what I witnessed $30 down the drain. read more

As a vegetarian this is a go to dinner spot for me and my family. They have amazing options for tacos that are unique! I highly recommend trying this place out. Also their queso is one of the best I've had, perfect taste and consistency. Try it out!! read more

Velvet Taco - Nashville Hot Tofu, Fried Paneer - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Velvet Taco knows how to bring the flavor! We tried a bunch of tacos: spicy chicken tikka, spicy paneer, Nashville hot tofu, Mexicali shrimp, and roasted cauliflower and every one of them was yum. Super creative flavor combos and the sauces on the side were absolute flavor bombs. The only letdown was the promo: their website said you get free nachos with queso when signing up, but the staff told us we couldn't redeem it. Bit of a bummer and took away from the overall experience. That said, the food was solid and unique enough that I'd still come back. Just hoping for a little more consistency next time! read more

I didn't actually know this was a franchise. I've been to the Velvet Taco in Houston and really liked it so I had to visit this one while I'm in the area. It didn't disappoint. My daughter had 3 different tacos, salmon, chicken tikka and another. She let me tasty them and they were very good especially the salmon. Except the taco pretty much fell apart once she picked it up. I got the chicken bowl and it was very tasty. Price was about the same as I remember and was on the more expensive side for tacos and bowl but worth it. read more

Velvet Taco - Rotisserie Chicken Bowl (GF) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious tacos and great spot for vegetarians!! I honestly liked all three of the vegetarian taco options a lot. The tofu one surprised me and is my favorite which I wouldn't expect. Paneer and cauliflower were absolutely delicious too. The prices are def on the more expensive side, but the tacos have a lot of different ingredients and taste delicious! I also think the red velvet cake is prob the best I've had. It is very sweet, but if you're in the mood for dessert, I highly recommend trying it! read more

Came here for a quick late night bite after a Saturday night out. Loved the creative approach to tacos. Great vegetarian options and love their variety. Beer Battered Cauliflower Taco (5/5) - Perfectly crispy cauliflower with great sauce. Great flavor Fried Paneer Taco (4/5) - good attempt at an Indian fusion Nashville Hot Tofu Taco (4/5) - Tasty seasoning with a manageable amount of heat Red Curry Coconut Queso (4.5/5) - Salty but addictively good with the chips The portions are pretty generous and each taco feels unique. Quick service despite being busy. The inside has an industrial and quirky vibe which works well. Perfect for late night cravings! read more

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The food came out quickly, and the service was excellent. This was honestly one of the best tacos I've ever had, the shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the ingredients were fresh. The place is small but not too noisy, which made for a pleasant dining experience. I'll definitely try to go back before I leave! read more

Velvet Taco - Mexi-Cali Shrimp - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After hearing rave reviews, I finally tried Velvet Taco, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I ordered delivery on a Saturday night, and to my surprise, it arrived quickly--within 20-25 minutes. I tried three tacos: the Spicy Tikka Chicken, Mexi-Cali Shrimp, and Kobe Beef Smash Burger. While all were delicious, the Kobe Beef Smash Burger taco truly stood out. The combination of ground beef, pickles, special sauce, and cheese in a tortilla might sound unconventional, but it works so well! Velvet Taco is more of a specialty taco spot rather than a traditional Mexican taqueria, similar to how some pizzerias focus on unique specialty slices rather than the classic ones. If you're in the mood for something creative and different, Velvet Taco is perfect. The only downside? It's a bit on the pricier side--around $7-8 per taco. That said, I loved my experience and can't wait to try more from their menu next time! read more

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Highly disappointed. They've started skimping out on the paneer sauce so it taste like tofu. Velvet taco used to be so good but now it's average. The service was also slow. Seating is nice with extensive space including upstairs. However, would not recommend going back since they are making the recipes cheaper read more

Velvet Taco - Fried Paneer tacos - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Velvet taco has been my go to ever since I went to the first ever velvet taco in Texas. Their food menu items are so creative and so delicious. My absolute favorite is the Nashville hot tofu taco. I love the slight crunch and slight spiciness of the tofu balanced by crunchy pickles. I also love the chicken tikka taco. Never did I think that rice in a taco would taste good. The beer battered cauliflower is yummy too, I like the southern take on fried cauliflower. The service is very fast usually and I love the fact that you can order, grab your table and chat with your friends while they call out your name when you order is ready. The ambience is very texan with open seating, industrial chairs and tables. Love velvet taco and it is a staple for me, especially on weekends when you need yummy food after a night of drinking. read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I thought this was a fascinating and fun menu. Well executed as well. I was skeptical at first but once you embrace that it's not your normal taco spot, it's smooth sailing. I was just grabbing a quick lunch so I only tried 2 tacos. The chicken and waffle taco was so unique and unlike any chicken and waffles I've had. The shell was reminiscent of a choco taco shell and then the chicken tender was crisp and juicy. The chimichurri steak taco was also very good. That was more of a traditional taco. Was nice to pair a fun taco with a taco with familiar flavors. Would definitely come back to try some of the others! read more

Velvet Taco - Chimichurri Steak and Chicken & Waffle tacos - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been have a few times. The tacos are alway so unique and very tasty!!! This time around I went with the Cuban pig, very good, and the fish n' chips taco, it was amazing!!! The beer battered cod, curry aioli, french fries, malt vinegar, and napa slaw combo was like a melody on my taste buds. read more

Velvet Taco - (2) #4 Nashville Hot Tofu, #7 Cuban Pig, #16 Fish n' Chips - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was craving Velvet Taco and hence decided to order it for lunch. I usually order Nashville Hot Tofu as that is the only vegan option available (although it's not completely vegan as it has sour cream over it) i love the crispy tofu combination with tacos, and the sauces are very flavorful. I have tried their paneer tikka tacos, falafel tacos, beer battered cauliflower tacos and even spicy chicken tikka taco in the past. All their tacos are good, I liked the spicy chicken tikka taco the most where they combined chicken with basmati rice and basil. Hoping they bring a similar combination in one of their vegan options as I've quit meat! Hoping they have more Vegan options in the future! Velvet Taco is in major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Nashville. Dallas is the birthplace of Velvet Taco. Velvet Taco was my first meal in the USA when I moved in 2016 and it will indeed always be special! P.S. If you like spicy food, make sure to ask for their hot sauces as they definitely elevate the taste of this Indo-Mexican fusion tacos. They usually mess up sending these sauces for their take out orders. read more

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This location has plenty of seating. We were a group of 6 and found some seats on the first floor. As vegetarians we tried the following : Tofu : 5/5. This is by far my favorite. It is the right amount of crispy. Paneer: 2/5. This was just okay. The paneer was rubbery. Cauliflower: 3/5. I found this to be just okay , but my husband liked this the best. read more

Velvet Taco - Vegan Tacos - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kat was AMAZING!! Experience was great!! Crew was very friendly and welcoming . My order came out quick and food was very good!!!! 10/10 Shana read more

No complaints! I'll be coming here again for sure. I recommend getting the taco combo (2 tacos + side + drink). I tried the chicken & waffle taco (9/10), quesa birria taco (5/10), chimichurri steak (8/10), and kobe smash burger taco (11/10). I also enjoyed the guac and queso with their blue corn tortilla chips. The interior has two floors with plenty of seating and the whole place was clean. I had a great time at Velvet Taco. read more

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I recommend ordering the say what combo while it's around. It comes with a side, any 2 tacos, and a drink for $15 so you can definetely get a great bang for your buck depending on which tacos you choose. I got the chile shrimp and picnic chicken and really enjoyed it. I also love the Nashville tofu tacos. Though this place isn't super authentic by any means - all the tacos are really fun in terms of combinations and all have been hits to me! read more

Velvet Taco - Say What Combo - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The chicken tikka taco and queso are awesome. Definitely going to come back for it again. Took less than 10 mins to get my food after ordering. read more

Velvet Taco - chicken Spicy Tikka Chicken, steak Chimichurri Steak, Queso blanco (GF) (V) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I LOVE these tacos, velvet taco is proof that anything inside a tortilla is going to be fantastic I've tried every single thing in the menu but I think my favorites are the chimichurri steak , regular steak & cali shrimp , buffalo chicken , chicken waffle , chicken tikka & let's not forget about spicy cauliflower . Their dips trio is a must order . I prefer recommend getting delivery rather than dinning in . read more

Velvet Taco - Queso dip - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the signature taco places in Chicago. There is seating on the ground and upper floor with mostly long tables. Bulgogi Walking Taco- nice fusion dish and fun eating out of the bag! Salmon taco was fresh. Steak Chimichurri- it was a little bit greasy, but what good taco isn't? Overall, the food was good but I wouldn't say it was amazing. read more

Velvet Taco - Bulgogi walking taco, #11.5 Chimichurri Steak, #15 Grilled Salmon - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: Tequila Lime Chicken - 4/10 * Decent, but I've had better tacos at Taco Bell Quesa Birria Duo - 1/10 * Not crispy at all, shell falling apart, didn't even finish. Grilled Steak - 2/10 * Bland & ok at best Service: Friendly, quick, convenient. Ambiance: Not bad. My suggestion: Don't just pile a bunch of toppings on a taco Birria tacos should be crispy - the shell shouldn't be falling apart before you even dip it. *** I might come back again - but for the price I'll likely go elsewhere. read more

The tacos were delicious. I would definitely come back for the food, but the service wasn't great, and it was very cold inside.

whenever you see the metal taco tray, you know it's about to be way overpriced tiny tacos doing absolutely way too much. and that's what velvet taco is. and don't let the tacos get cold, good luck warming them up. service is ok sometimes, sometimes it's a bit pretentious. the atmosphere in this place always seems rushed and "hurry up and buy!" kinda feel to it a little bit a lot. been here on drunk nights and sober nights hot nights and cold nights and it's always trash. respectfully. read more

Open laaaate! I went around 1:45am and it was packed but they have a really good system/process so the wait wasn't bad. The tacos were fire and untraditional. There's an upstairs dining room as well. read more

I love these tacos! I had the bacon cheeseburger and the a chimichurri steak fully loaded!! We been I say beyond infinity and beyond great! My 7 year old son took half my taco!!! The elote corn can be spicy but I went under the spice and he was ready for it!!! I say a grand 20 out of 10! Wasn't expecting this but I'm GRATEFUL that I have!!! Me and my family will be back soon!!! ! This is a good to spot NOW!!!! read more

No. They sound amazing but it's basically a bunch of ingredients mix matched by taco to create a new taco item. The chicken tacos sounded amazing on the menu. Chileeeeeee I ordered all FIVE of the flavors. No. Three of them used the same breaded chicken. All of the tortillas were raw. Flimsy and doughy. I had: Spicy tikka chicken it's supposed to be the best. Say what? Buffalo chicken This one was ok. But again the same chicken tenders. You can't mess up a buffalo sauce. Rotisserie chicken queso blanco, roasted corn pico, charred tomato poblano salsa, cilantro, flour tortilla It was so bad I don't remember it at all. Picnic chicken rotisserie chicken with potatoes. It was decent. Chicken & waffle this was the worst of them all. Yuck. Doughy shell. Sweet and yucky. I also had the elote. Soupy corn. No. Service was slow. To order it took forever! I would come to try the beef or seafood tacos IF I was with someone but not making any trips. Don't recommend. read more

It's like a fast food taco option. I thought this place was OK. It made me miss bar taco. They have tastier tacos. There are also like 3 other taco spots next door/nearby Velvet Taco. They have several different options for tacos. The taco bowl looked good. I ordered the combo dish: 2 tacos + a side + a drink for $14.95. I ordered the Baja fish and steak taco with the elote w/blue tortilla chips. The Baja fish was tastier than the steak taco. I would order the Baja fish again. The tacos are a good size. They messed up my order by not removing the avocado (even though I did tell them upon ordering). The steak taco was a step above taco bell steak. It was kinda chewy and hard. Their layout downstairs is also way too crowded, making it hard to pick up your food order. I may go here again, but I would be open to trying the other spots next door. read more

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Great spot for a quick taco stop! The line moves fast and the tacos are always great portions. The prices seem steep at first until you see the size of the tacos. My personal favorites are the chicken tikka taco, the cauliflower, and the Korean fried rice. They're all flavorful and hit the spot for a quick lunch. read more

Velvet taco is a classic quick bite to eat or drunk spot. There are a variety of tacos and love that there is fusion of flavors. I love that you can sub out most tacos for paneer if you are vegetarian so I like to do the paneer tikka masala. I also love their queso and chips. The service is usually quick and there are two floors so you usually can find seating read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to velvet taco in west loop for a quick bite! It's open late night so it's convenient to grab food from here during late night hours when everything else is closed. You order your food and they announce that it's ready for pick up so you can grab your table while you're waiting. Right off the bat, we had to wait close to 10 minutes to place our order even though we were the only people in line when we were ordering. During the ordering process, the individual taking our order was texting on their phone while we were ordering our food, which was very unprofessional and we had to repeat our order multiple times to them. The bathrooms were not clean, the paper towels were out, the soap dispenser was running out of soap, and the trash bins (in the bathroom and the restaurant) were over flowing. In terms of food, it was quite an average experience - we got the chimichurri steak, fried paneer, cauliflower, and chicken tikka tacos - all of which were good but not as great as I was expecting them to be. The size of the tacos was decent but the filling inside was lacking flavor and vibrance. I had to drown every bite with hot sauce to add more flavor. We also got the classic guac and chips on the side. The guac was probably the best part of the entire meal. It was delicious, and not too crunchy and neither too soft. The seasoning was perfect and went so well with the chips! Honestly, I was quite disappointed with my experience here today, especially given that I have tried velvet taco in the past and absolutely loved it. Not sure if this is something that's specific to this location but I hope that customer service and flavor is something that does see improvement at their locations. read more

Velvet Taco - #11.5 Chimichurri Steak #6.5 Beer Battered Cauliflower #5 Fried Paneer #3 Spicy Tikka Chicken - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food at this place is awesome!! The sauces on the tacos are AWESOME!! The chicken tikka tacos are a no-brainer.