{"id":24313,"date":"2022-07-25T16:01:05","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T16:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=24313"},"modified":"2023-12-27T20:09:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T20:09:59","slug":"best-mexican-food-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/best-mexican-food-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Mexican Food in Chicago: 5 Rabanitos, Birrieria Zaragoza, & More"},"content":{"rendered":"

With one of the largest Mexican populations in the United States, Chicago offers a plethora of delightful choices for those craving authentic Mexican cuisine in the Windy City.<\/p>\n

But where should you go for the very best Mexican food in Chicago?<\/p>\n

From Pilsen\u2019s mural-bedecked 18th Street<\/a> on the South Side, over to Archer Heights, around the hipster eateries in Logan Square, over to Rick Bayless\u2019 mini-Restaurant Row of Mexican fine dining restaurants, you\u2019ll never run out of good options.<\/p>\n

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Believe it or not, Chicago is home to hundreds of amazing Mexican food restaurants. Photo credit: Lou Stejskal<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s our top six pics for the best Mexican food in Chicago.<\/p>\n

5 Rabanitos<\/h2>\n

Located just one block from the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, Chef Alfonso Sotelo and his 5 Rabanitos<\/a> team serve up a huge menu of authentic dishes (tortas, tacos, moles, oh my!) with quality ingredients in a colorful, friendly atmosphere.\u00a0 And all at an affordable price. You could throw a dart at the menu and you\u2019ll still end up ordering something delicious.<\/p>\n

Having learned under Chicago-legend Rick Bayless, Chef Sotelo sought to bring a taste of his hometown of Guerrero, Mexico to Chicago\u2019s south side. He didn\u2019t stop at the amazing recipes. He brought his childhood nickname too, from when he and his brothers used to bring fresh produce to the market, and everyone called them the Cinco Rabanitos\u2013<\/em>the Five Radishes.<\/p>\n

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There is no shortage of delicious tacos in Chicago. Photo credit: stu_spivack<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mi Tocaya Antojeria<\/h2>\n

Over in Logan Square, Chef Diana Davila has Mi Tocaya Antojeria<\/a>, a small-plate cafe focused on \u201cantojitos<\/em>,\u201d little cravings. The menu is littered with inventive dishes ideal for sharing and comparing favorites among a group. Even the guacamole goes a step beyond\u2013adorned with garlic, serrano, sea salt and chile ash.<\/p>\n

The Brocollini en Nogada<\/em> with pickled golden raisins, charred shishitos, apples, and pomegranate honey, is a salad to forget all other salads. Come with an open mind and leave with a full belly!<\/p>\n

Topolobampo<\/h2>\n

This Michelin-starred gem is the crown jewel of Rick Bayless\u2019 culinary empire. With its upscale take on regional Mexican cuisine, Topolobampo<\/a> (along with its sister restaurant Frontera Grill) not only put River North on the restaurant map when it debuted in 1980, it smashed our preconceptions of what Mexican fine dining could be.<\/p>\n

Chef Bayless hasn\u2019t looked back since, amassing an absolute haul of honors while opening new restaurants, writing cookbooks and hosting cooking shows on TV. Topolobampo has won every award imaginable for everything from Service to Taste to Sustainability.<\/p>\n

The seven-course tasting menu is constantly changing, but the quality is always consistent. Trust in the award-winning wine pairings. Topolobampo is a \u201ctreat yourself\u201d pick for a night on the town. Any list of the best Mexican food in Chicago has to include a Rick Bayless restaurant.<\/p>\n

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Treat yourself to a night at Topolobampo in Chicago for some amazing Mexican food. Photo credit: snowpea&bokchoi<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tzuco<\/h2>\n

Tzuco\u2019s<\/a> menu is a perfect amalgamation of Chef Carlos Guytan\u2019s Mexican roots and his training in French cuisine, to delicious results. Guytan was the first Mexican chef to receive a Michelin star. His expertise, along with the warm, inviting decor and earthen ambiance make for a standout experience amidst a River North scene crowded with celebrity chefs.<\/p>\n

The Cochinita Pibil\u2013a pork shank with a black bean pur\u00e8e and haba\u00f1ero salsa served with tortillas\u2013is an absolute star. As is the Chile Relleno, a poblano pepper stuffed with tomato fondue and panela<\/em> cheese.<\/p>\n

As good as the dinner menu is, the brunch offerings<\/a> are even better. Between the duck waffles, the chorizo crepes, and the tzuco shakshuka, you can\u2019t go wrong. Did I mention the french toast on orange-infused sweet sponge bread, the one with pink peppercorn ice cream and fresh berries? Honestly, is it time for breakfast yet?<\/p>\n

Insider\u2019s tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Love eating your way around the globe? Discover even more delicious local picks in our post on\u00a0Central & Eastern European restaurants in Chicago,<\/a>\u00a0where we tuck into dishes from Croatia, Georgia, Poland, and more!<\/p>\n

Carnitas Uruapan<\/h2>\n

The original location on 18th Street in Pilsen is tiny (take-out only) but Carnitas Uruapan<\/a> leaves an unforgettable impression. From the chicharrones<\/em> hanging in the window, to the overwhelmingly delightful aroma of slow roasted pork once you step in, you can tell immediately you\u2019re in safe culinary hands.<\/p>\n

Guided by a family recipe that goes back 40 years to the Michoacan region of Mexico, the staff joyfully dole out carnitas<\/em>\u2013chunks of pork cooked slowly for hours until crispy on the outside but tender on the inside\u2013by either the taco or the pound. These carnitas<\/em> are some of the best around.<\/p>\n

And the price can\u2019t be beat. One pound of pork carnitas<\/em> goes for $12.99. Heck, you can get the crispy taco dorado (a chorizo and potato filling) for $0.99. A half-dozen tacos for the road is never a bad idea.<\/p>\n

\"extreme
We’ll take carnitas on everything, please! Photo credit: Ginny<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Birrieria Zaragoza<\/h2>\n

Goat is the only thing on the menu at Birrieria Zaragoza<\/a>. But it\u2019s not just any goat. Birria<\/em> is a tender stewed goat meat thrown in with diced onions, cilantro, and salsa. And John Zaragoza, after a pilgrimage back to his hometown of La Barca, Jalisco to learn from the masters, has perfected birria<\/em>. We promise the goat-head taco is well worth the trip out to Archer Heights.<\/p>\n

Get the goat tacos for $3. Or the goat platter, bone-in or out, your choice, for at least five goat tacos’ worth of goodness. Or maybe try the goat soup. They\u2019re all delicious. Actually, you should pick the goat quesadilla, because adding gooey cheese to the affair just takes it up another level.<\/p>\n

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Never tried goat before? Birrieria Zaragoza in Chicago is the perfect introduction. Photo credit: Heather Sperling<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With one of the largest Mexican populations in the United States, Chicago offers a plethora of delightful choices for those craving authentic Mexican cuisine in the Windy City. But where should you go for the very best Mexican food in Chicago? From Pilsen\u2019s mural-bedecked 18th Street on the South Side, over to Archer Heights, around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":24319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"2normal","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2142,2144],"tags":[2052,2053],"ppma_author":[2398],"class_list":["post-24313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blog","category-food-and-drink-in-chicago","tag-mexican-food","tag-mexican-restaurants"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDevour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Craving Mexican food in the Windy City but don't know where to go? 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