Had a really great experience here! We ordered the Quesa Birria Tacos, which came with a small side of 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! read more

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Meh - love the options and unique ingredients like chicken tikka, paneer and buffalo chicken, however overall quality lacking. Ordered a veggie bowl and the "roasted vegetables" were basically non-existent. One small cauliflower piece, and literally nothing else, other than rice, beans and guacamole. Wanted to love this place. Sadly, nope. read more

Came late here after a fun day and drinking and you know how rinks You 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 read more

Rotisserie chicken bowl was just okay. Rice was a bit hard, and overall it made my stomach hurt . The sauce and the guacamole on the bowl were great, though! Smaller storefront, better for takeout! read more

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

Velvet taco is great for a quick lunch or a late night grab. I've been coming to this location since they've opened. The food is consistently great. The prices have nearly doubled since they've opened. They do have a deal which drew me back in after a three year hiatus. The deal is 2 tacos and a drink for $10.00. I recommend the Nashville Hot Tofu Taco. read more

Velvet Taco - Top is mexi Cali shrimp and the bottom is Nashville hot tofu. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'd been to Velvet Taco in Atlanta a few years ago, but for some reason it didn't really hit the spot for me. So when I came across this location during my trip to Chicago, I decided to give it another chance. It's in a great location near the Magnificent Mile, making it an easy stop while exploring the area. I ordered the Fried Paneer taco and the Beer-Battered Cauliflower taco, and both were really good. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the flavors worked really well together. I also had to save room for the red velvet cake because I'd skipped it on my last visit. The slice was absolutely massive, I later found out it was over 1,000 calories! There was no way I could finish it, so I took most of it to go. It was incredibly rich, moist, and delicious, and definitely worth trying if you have a sweet tooth (or someone to share it with!). This visit completely changed my opinion of Velvet Taco, and I'm glad I decided to give it another shot. read more

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Stop by and try it out. Good food, open late, easy to eat when you need get in and out. read more

Velvet Taco - Tacos, Steak, Fish, Mexican, American, Late Night - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was not expecting how good my taco was going to be! It punched me straight in the mouth with the tender chicken and all the flavors. I got the Rotisserie Chicken Taco on a flour shell. It was 10/10 in taste and flavor. I remember when I bit into the taco doing a little dance because it was that good. The service was quick and I didn't have to wait long for my taco. read more

Velvet Taco - Rotisserie Chicken Taco on Flour Shell - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered their tacos online and they were heavenly. Tried their paneer, tofu and cauliflower taco . All three of them were amazing. Such great flavor can just come to Chicago just for this specially. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Food was amazing!! Such a great deal (2 tacos for only 10$), I added a side for +$3 and it was definitely more than enough food. The atmosphere was so cute - Would totally come again! read more

Velvet Taco - Quesa Birria and Mexi-Cali Shrimp Tacos with Elote (GF) (V) † - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tacos were fantastic. Killer service. Get the cake! Everyone smiling and super interactive. N. State location

Check your order before leaving. Every time I come here they forget part of my order. In starting to think they're intentionally stealing from me read more

Love living right down the street from this place. I've only been here a few days and have already dined here twice. A little pricey for Chicago tacos but its central location and late night hours make it all worth it. I love love love the quesabirria tacos here. You really can't go wrong with the combo of two tacos, chips with a side, and a fountain drink for 15 bucks. Counter service makes for a quick and easy taco stop, but there is enough space to sit down and enjoy the meal there which I appreciate as well. read more

Velvet Taco - Quesa Birria Duo - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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In an area that makes your wallet feel like it's hemorrhaging even if untouched, Velvet taco stands as a bastion of affordable (as well as tasty and fun) eats. If you're a purist who is seeking a traditional taco, this spot is probably not for you. However, if you're an open-minded taco lover, you need to get your beautiful and amazing self in here, stat! Here are all the things Velvet Taco does well: + The tacos are large! Proteins are not skimped on, all the while they remain in balance with other ingredients + Everything (tacos and sides) is tasty! The ingredients are fresh and flavorful! The combinations of protein, veggie, sauce, and garnishes come together in beautiful, delicious harmony. + The combinations are fun but approachable. There is something here for everyone, whether you're into meat, fish, or vegetarian options, you'll be able to find something. + The value is great! I consistently get the "Say What" combo, which entitles you to two tacos, a fountain drink, and a side with chips. In light of both the quality and portion sizes, this makes for a very reasonably priced lunch or lighter dinner. + The service has been kind and appropriately fast. They are not as fast as a well-managed taco bell, but considering the freshness, I don't expect them to be. My feedback items are minor: - It would be nice if the hot sauce bottles were labeled. - My fire-tempered taste buds wish for a hotter hot sauce. With all this, Velvet taco isn't going to win any Michelin stars, but they do their thing extraordinarily well, and you are doing yourself a disservice by not stopping in read more

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I was just out wandering around enjoying the beautiful breezy afternoon & decided to check into Velvet Taco. The menu was big & easy to read up on the wall. I was so undecided but saw an order handed to someone that looked great so I said "yep, that's what I'm having too"... and I did. The combo comes with two soft tacos, a side snack + fountain drink. For Gold Coast area, that is a great deal. One Cajun Shrimp, one beer battered cod with remulade, a side of quacamole with chips & iced tea $15 before tax & tip. Food was excellent, dinged a star because the girl taking the orders had a pissy attitude and seemed like she didn't want to be there. Word to management: hire friendly people please!! Casual vibe, felt trendy and it's counter service so you order then wait to pick up your food when they shout out your name. I'll go back, suprisingly I was really full afterward. read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just had lunch here and the tacos were outstanding. Walked in and could tell there were some regulars which is always a good sign. Debated from a long list of tacos what to get and ended up with a chicken and waffles and hatch chili pork. Both were delicious. Everything seemed very fresh. Liked them so much I had to go back up and try a beef one. Went with the chimichurri and was not disappointed. Will definitely go back to Velvet Taco next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Velvet Taco - Chicken and waffle taco and Hatch Chili pork taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a smaller location but same velvet taco flavors. I was disappointed to learn that they cook their tofu and other veg in the same fryer as their meat. That's really gross for someone who's a vegetarian and I hope they change their process. So ever since I learned that, we have been getting the bowls instead, and those have been yummy. The queso, guac, and sauces are really good. read more

Had a chance to try Velvet Taco when visiting Chicago this past weekend and it was a great experience. This place is a good spot for late night munchies, and given our flight came in super late, it was a great spot to grab a snack or should I say a full meal lol. The service here is fast and ambiance is casual. You order at the front, they call your name and you get your food and find a spot to eat. For our order we tried: * Chicken tikka taco - delicious and flavorful, this one hit the spot for me with the different Indian flavors * buffalo chicken taco - I personally love buffalo sauce and the tang it gives off. Hence when I saw this on the menu I had to order this and it was delicious! * Korean taco - this was a special taco for the week and the hubby loved it. It was on the sweeter side but the flavors came together extremely well *Guac elote - this came with chips and man this was awesome. I could not stop eating this and the combo was weirdly creamy in a perfect way. Love how the chips are thin and crunchy! Overall, great experience and would go back to try the other tacos! read more

Velvet Taco - Buffalo, chicken tikka taco & Korean taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a clean location. Plenty of sitting upstairs for guests to eat. The bathrooms were kept up. My chicken tikki taco was amazing. I also enjoyed their nachos. The birria tacos weee okay but not my favorite. Overall if your looking for a quick bite to eat in the city this a go to taco spot! Service was helpful and led me to the right direction that I was after. read more

Velvet Taco - Upstairs sitting artwork - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The first time I tried Velvet Taco I really liked it, but the following visits felt less consistent. My favorite item is the chicken tikka taco. I've also tried the bowl, but I was a bit underwhelmed by it. read more

Velvet Taco - Spicy Tikka Chicken - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love that they had an upstairs space with lots of wide tables and seats you can move around. Both floors have bathrooms and self-serve drink stations. Really awesome space at a crowded downtown location. Foods were served on nice metal holders or disposable/environmentally friendly containers and utensils. The tacos were huge, and I love that they focus on the variety of vegetables on the taco, which is often overlooked at other places. Veggies also make the taco look beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the tikka paneer, the paneer was soft for paneer but firmer than tofu, a really great texture. And the flavor wasn't overpowering. The tikka sauce was light, which I am totally fine with. The chicken quesadilla was also made well and of good value, the kids all really liked it. The salmon was good too but didn't really stand out as much, but appreciate the variety veggies on top! The mexi-Cali shrimp bowl was not bad either, but also didn't stand out much. The shrimp was good but I prefer it cooked even lighter if possible. Flavor was good tho. The rice was long grain, which I prefer, but they do give quite a lot, I ended up having quite a lot leftover. I wish the had a bit more cilantro or other herby mix to increase the depth of flavor, but overall still pretty good. Queso was also really good, thick and creamy, not too salty, but sadly the kids didn't like it as much. Husband also liked the gochujang pork a lot, said it was actually really really good. Overall, we really enjoyed everything we had there. Love that they also had paper towels everywhere. My preferred method of keeping clean haha. Will definitely come back. read more

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Yesterday My Wonderful Son Graduated from high school on his 18th birthday. Today he wanted to take mom out and we tried Velvet Tacos for the first time. The ambience, the friendly customer service specialist at the register gave us was so appreciated. He did not rush us (Shawn) he was patient , welcoming , and that makes me happy as a former Manager Of Operations. The first face is the person at the register. Good Job Shawn, Keep up the great work and the manger on duty he was awesome too , love the microphone to give customers a shout out. The presentation of the food and the taste top ten. read more

I've been curious about Velvet Taco and finally went to try it out with my husband. Small little space with upstairs sitting space and restrooms. Bar stool style dining downstairs. Delicious looking menu. We were both just looking for a quick bite so got the 2 for $10 meal deal. We got the beer battered cauliflower tacos and quesa birria (pork) taco. Oooh so good. Just the right amount of toppings for both! The birria had a delicious roasted flavor to it! Loved the dipping sauce that came with it -- a little surprise. Will definitely come back for more to try the rest of the menu in the future. read more

Ordered Velvet Taco on DoorDash late at night. Although the delivery took a while to get picked up and arrive, the food somehow still came warm. We ordered three bowls, chicken, steak, and brisket and they were all very full and packed with flavor. I do wish there was a little more brisket, but overall it was definitely worth the money. read more

So many options for tacos. I got the slow roasted angus brisket, chicken and waffle, and the rotisserie chicken taco. All were delicious! Great place if you want a quick bite to eat with quality tacos. read more

Velvet Taco - Rotisserie Chicken Taco and Slow Slow-Roasted Angus Brisket Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yum! Get the chicken tikka taco, especially after midnight! It's a cross cultural sensation that didn't have me regretting the decision the next morning. read more

It was my first time trying Velvet Taco after receiving raving reviews from most of my friends. I got the Tofu taco and paneer taco and i'm more than thrilled to report that not only were they delicious, they surpassed my expectations. They live up to the hype and i highly encourage you to go here read more

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

Great unique tacos! Perfect place for a quick bite. It's super casual with seating upstairs. Order at the counter and find a seat. Came out really quick. And I even took some tacos home to go for later! Don't sleep on the cauliflower taco! read more

Velvet Taco - Buffalo Chicken Mexi-Cali Shrimp Bacon Smash Burger Beer Battered Cauliflower Slow-Roasted Angus Brisket - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was amazing very fresh and they don't skimp you out on anything like guac, meat, queso. Nicolas was AMAZING. He helped us a lot and was a very hard worker! read more

Velvet Taco - Rotisserie Chicken and Hatch Chile Pork - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Creative Tacos with a Late-Night Vibe Visited on: May 2025 Food: Velvet Taco offers a diverse menu of globally inspired tacos. We are vegetarian so tried only those. The Paneer taco stands out with its flavorful combination of fried paneer and raita sauce. The Nashville Hot Tofu taco provides a satisfying heat balanced by pickles. Beer battered cauliflower was average. Service: Ordering is straightforward with counter service, and food is typically prepared promptly. Additional seating space is available upstairs but stairs are steep. Ambiance: The restaurant boasts a modern, industrial design with quirky decor elements. It's a casual spot. Value for Money: Tacos are priced between $6-$8 each. While on the higher side, the unique flavor combinations and generous portions offer reasonable value. Would You Return? Maybe, great for locals when craving something different but as visitor, its a little out of the way to be visited for vegetarian tacos. read more

Maybe 4.5. A ding for pricey. I also came during the day so speed was low. Staff was perfectly pleasant. Atmosphere is hole in the wall. I could see it getting jammed. Low fuss overall - a good thing on my book. All that said would definitely return. I had the chikka taco and some velvet cake. Both were excellent. The other possible tacos all look good to try. Just sad I wasn't more hungry so I could try more. read more

Wow! It's yumm yumm Velvet Tacos in Chicago is a must-visit for taco lovers. The tacos are soft and packed with flavor, making every bite satisfying. The Cheese Taco stands out with its creamy, rich taste that melts in your mouth. The Fish Taco is light and fresh, with a delightful crunch that pairs perfectly with their house-made sauces. The Chicken Taco is another winner, offering tender, juicy meat seasoned to perfection. The sauces at Velvet Tacos are exceptional, adding just the right amount of kick to each taco. Overall, Velvet Tacos delivers a super satisfying taco experience with a variety of delicious options that are sure to please any palate. I loved and enjoyed. I recommend whosoever goes down town Chicago must taste it read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have ordered from here before, but I will not order from this location again. First, the $500 order that we submitted contained errors such as wrong sides, incorrect tacos, missing meals, and no names on the orders. in the past, names were always put on the orders, due to the amount of orders. Secondly, I called EZ Cater, and after 15 minutes was put through to the store, only to be hung up on by whomever answered the phone. I could tell that she pretended not to hear me, so we are not accepting that excuse. This is more than unacceptable, it was rude. Therefore, our company will not do anymore business with Velvet Tacos. We cannot afford to cater to insubordination. It is my suggestion that your employees be trained to better conduct business with customers looking for a positive experience with the business. I am forwarding this information to those within my company who place food orders on a regular basis. We may be just a customer to Velvet Tacos, but we deserve an element of respect. read more

Great tacos with a city vibe. Stopped in first thing when we arrived to the Chi and was just what we expected. Many choices on the menu that were reasonable on the wallet. If you love tacos, you'll love this spot. Highly recommend!! read more

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Okay, I have to apologize for the half-eaten food pics but I literally had to stop eating just to write this review. That's how good it was. I ordered a steak bowl with no rice, subbed in slaw and extra veggies, and when I pulled it out of the bag, I was shocked at how heavy it was considering I skipped the rice. They did not hold back on the steak, this thing was packed with protein and super fresh, flavorful ingredients. The elote was absolutely addictive. I had to talk myself out of finishing the whole thing in one sitting. I'm so glad I randomly found this place on Uber Eats while staying at a hotel around the corner I'd definitely order again. read more

Velvet Taco - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent Concept! I love the variety of different tacos. I ordered the Spicy Tikka Chicken which came with crisp tenders, spicy tikka sauce, buttered cilantro basmati rice, raita crema, Thai basil, on a flour tortilla. The grilled steak, portobello mushrooms, queso blanco, crispy red onion, Mexican oregano on a corn tortilla. The Queso Blanco that comes with a Chimichurri, Velvet Taco heat sauce and cilantro! Drinks are overly sweet yet strong. Tasty and nicely priced guacamole (considering how everyone overcharges). The Red Velvet cake is popppingggg! So moist and delicious. The cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement. The cake slice comes with a caramel sauce that it delicious. I do think that the tacos overall are wayyyyy too salty for me. I don't know if it's just this location over salting the food or what!! Please slow down on the salt!!! read more

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Velvet Taco is a great place to try different tacos. This isn't a place for authentic Mexican food. If you aware of this you'll enjoy the assortment of tacos. The tortillas, especially the corn tortillas are absolutely horrible bc they split in half when you pick it up. They need to heat up the tortillas so they don't split. DO NOT GET the birria tacos. These were 2 of the most pathetic put together tacos I've ever seen in my life. Skip these!!! The queso and the guacamole are very good and I highly recommend both. This place is great for a late night taco but I'd find a more authentic place if it was open. read more

Velvet Taco - Sweet Chile Shrimp and Fish n' Chips - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely amazing food, and amazing staff!! They were so helpful and truly were so welcoming. Me and my family had been there a year before and went back (we do not live in the area), and they gave us a free slice of cake for being loyal customers!! I cannot recommend this place more! read more

Ordered through DoorDash at midnight after a concert. Whenever I order food past 10 pm my expectations are typically low. I was pleasantly surprised with this - we ordered a smashburger taco and a chicken bowl. Both were delicious! Would absolutely recommend ordering from this place if you're needing a super late dinner. read more

I usually enjoy Velvet Taco for their creative options, but this visit missed the mark a bit. I ordered a shrimp bowl, and while it looked great, the shrimp were really small and way too salty like, overwhelmingly salty. It kind of overpowered the rest of the bowl, which was disappointing. That said, the guacamole was a standout. Super fresh, creamy, and had a nice balance of flavor. I'd honestly come back just for that. The corn salsa and slaw added some nice texture and color, but the overall balance of the bowl was thrown off by how heavily seasoned the shrimp were read more

Velvet Taco - Mexi-Cali Shrimp Bowl (GF) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois