la casa del pueblo.. what out of the many good things can i say about my #1 spot? first off let me just say my family and i have been going for years. since i was a child i am now 23 going on 24. their tamales are the only ones ill ever go in this cold weather for. their torta de camaron is to die for!!! or my personal favorite tacos de huevo con papa.. honestly if i can just somehow live there or near there i would in a heart beat.. another thing my family is very close to diana.. everytime we go we ask for her to attend us, not because we are picky, but because she makes us feel at home. dont get me wrong the other waitress' are awesome as well. casa del pueblo is my #1 spot always has been always will be til the day i die!!!!
(5)
Erika D.
It doesn't get any more authentic than this! Enough said =)
(5)
Reggie H.
Tamales often call you and then the craving begins. La Casa Del Pueblo scratches this reoccurring itch perfectly. The home style eatery serves authentic Mexican dishes that leave you feeling all warm and fully satisfied. It's a friendly restaurant with good service and fresh food. Today the tamales were pork and tasted fantastic. The masa was moist and just the right balance with the filling. We also had the chicken with mole sause which was excellent. I had to add a taco of the day; el Pastor which is my favorite style. It was great and I'll be back with my hunger ready to dine again.
(4)
Janna B.
My boyfriend and I came for the first time today. It was exactly what I described I wanted. The lady helping us was extremely nice and the place was clean as far as I could tell, however, I did not go in the bathroom and that's typically how you can tell. Anyway...the food was amazing. Warm chips was delicious salsa while we waited for our tamales and tacos. They also have orange Fanta in a glass bottle which is a huge plus in my book. I gave four stars because my boyfriend wasn't as big of a fan as I was and I wanted to include his opinion. But that's all I'll say about that...I'll be back for those delicious el pastor tacos.
(4)
Cesar M.
Years on the making. A few years ago I was there with a friend and we got there about 45 minutes before they closed . We tried a few things but were not impressed at all. I thought that it was because they were closing soon. A few days ago I decided to give it another try. I was there with a friend for Sunday brunch (way before closing, obviously) I tried rajas con queso, barbacoa, puerco en salsa verde, tortas de camaron, asado de puerco and tamales. I am not a big barbacoa fan but I can eat a few tacos when is good. Why did I order it then?? I didn't, they messed up my order and once it was there I just told them just bring me the rajas con queso that I had ordered on the side. Barbacoa here was just OK. Rajas con queso was my favorite, flavorful and well prepared. Everything else that I tried was just Ok. I wanted to be amazed by this place but that did not happen. The tamales were dry and just ok in flavor. I can see it could be a great place with home style cooking it just need that little extra in the flavor. Service was nice and confusing at the same time. Is it a waiter service or a cafeteria style place??? A little of both. They have the food cafeteria style, but you sit down and they come and take your order. LCDPT ok food, nice service but I've had better
(3)
Darren F.
they showed a episode of mexican food in Chicago's Best and this place was on there for one of the best tamales.. since i am a fan of tamales and still havnt found a restaurant that met my standards yet.. i decided to give it a try.. and this place is local to me it was 12 bucks for a dozen tamales or something.... i got 6 pork and 6 chicken... also got a pork with some red sauce(dont know what its called) taco.. the pork with red sauce taco was pretty good! there was a lot of flavors to it and the meat was juicy! the tamales on the other hand.. not so good.. they were smaller then normal tamales.. that's ok tho.. I got a dozen of them haha.. but there wasn't much meat in them at all.. that was disappointing.. it was like eating nothing but maza... eh.. I might come back to try a few other tacos but not getting tamales from here again..
(2)
Sarah G.
These tacos were so big and definitely worth the money! Taco taco tacos! This a divey taqueria with some of the nicest employees ever. You could tell they really enjoy working there and love the food that they make. There is some food premade out cafeteria style sort of or you can order fresh tacos which is definitely the way to go. The tacos are $2.75 each which may seem pricey, but they are pretty big and packed with meat and flavor that I think they are worth every penny. We split a few tacos and their special al pastor definitely was the winner! Wow. So much flavor and spices on that al pastor I definitely did not want to share that taco with anyone! Then we got the chicken mole taco which also was really tasty but the chicken was served bone in which I was not expecting. So made that taco eating experience a little more interactive, but still the flavors were right one. Then we got the chicarron taco and that again was another winner. So you can't go wrong getting tacos here (although our friend ordered the fish taco and was underwhelmed so stick to pork I say!!!), and the service is so nice, and it may take a little while for you to get your food, it is BYOB so bring some beer and you are all set!
(4)
Betty H.
Service: 5 friendly and quick Cleanliness: 3 tables were really dirty Food: 5 great steak tacos and a hearty gaucomole
(4)
Emily C.
Came here for the tamales and I would definitely recommend the spicy pork ones - very good. We also tried the chicken, regular pork and cheese. Unfortunately, they were all pretty bland. That's all we tried so not sure about any of the other things on the menu. BYOB - we brought our own margaritas and they were nice about bringing us glasses of ice. 138/365
(3)
Javier G.
Love the food here. Their tamales are some of the best around, pork, xhicken, peppers and cheese, and sweet . When you enter etiquette is to order food first then grab a table. They will bring the food to you.
(5)
Danny W.
Just not as good (in my opinion) as other nearby taco places. It was recommended for the tacos, so I can't speak to the other menu items. That said, the mole taco had about three times as much mole as chicken, and the chile relleno taco sounded good on paper but didn't live up to the vision I'd hoped for.
(2)
Chris C.
After seeing this on Chicago Best last night I went there today to check it out. I'm from Texas & love Mexican food and really enjoy fresh tamales & chile rellenos, both of which were highly recommended on the TV show. Unfortunately this was well below expectations for a number of reasons: My order was simple: 4 tamales w rice & beans to go. This is a tamale appetizer on their menu for $7.50. I asked for a sample of their flavors, 1 each of the cheese, sweet, beef, & bean tamales. You stand in line to order & they call you when your order is ready & you pay at that time. They also sell tamales by the dozen & when you ask for individual tamales they simply unwrap a pre-wrapped dozen of that type (kept warm in a steam tray) & put that on your plate or to-go container. The problem with this is not all of the pre-wrapped tamales are marked & you have to assume they will get the order correct. WRONG! I got 1 beef, 1 bean, 1 chicken, & 1 with a pepper in in it, no cheese or sweet. You won't know until you eat them if they are the right ones. There is a cafeteria style selection of prepared foods or you can order from the menu on the wall. They prepare meals by the order in which they are received so even though they have some food already prepared that would fill some of the orders (like mine) you still have to wait behind those in front of you who order something that might take a while to prepare. I waited about 25 minutes for a meal that could have been assembled to go in less than 5 minutes because of the orders ahead of me that had to be cooked to order. I don't know if they have had problems with orders being sent out before earlier orders in line or if they just haven't figured this out but it's very inefficient and frustrating for to-go orders. A man in front of me ordered 7 dozen tamales to go and had to wait the same 25 minutes even though they were already prepared & sitting in the warm tray until all of the others orders ahead of him were served. Red beef tamale, decent with a fair price ($1.25each) Chicken tamale - dry, no flavor Red tamale w pepper - good but not what I ordered Bean tamale - ok but nothing special Rice & beans, average - not bad 2 for food/ 1 for slow service / 1 for out of chile rellenos (don't know why) / 1 for bad serving procedure. The food I had was ok but not worth a drive to get there and not as good as many other Mexican places around town. People were nice & prices were mostly under $10 for a meal.
(2)
Adam R.
Continuing the Pilsen taco crawl, La Casa Del Pueblo was the next victim. And to be honest, this one was kind of the black sheep. Most simple taquerias have a pretty simple vibe. Small, intimate, friendly, great smelling... There are tons of exceptions, but this one I hadn't seen before, and it's the suburban taco joint. Are there taco places in the suburbs? Hopefully, but I really don't know. But instead of the suburban crew kind of falling in line, the opposite happened. They made the place annoyingly loud and unpleasant. That would be bad enough, but the tacos were extremely bland. I took a close-up where you can see that there's just not much going on with the taco. No flavor. No love. And if you can't love your taco, it's time to move on.
(2)
James V.
Hands down my favorite Mexican food in the city. I consider myself the expert of all Mexican food. There aren't too many places I haven't been! Casa is grand above all! Where else can you stand to order kitchen style then minutes late the lady's come to you're table with delicious authentic Mexican? Do not pass go.
(5)
Erica L.
Cafeteria style, plenty of food. I firmly believe they have the greatest tamales! They have vegetarian options, bean and cheese, cheese and rajas, and sweet tamales. They catered our wedding back in October and it was amazing! Huge portions, very affordable, they delivered it to the reception at a small cost, and they were very friendly! We did a half vegetarian and half meat menu. All of our guests both white and Mexican absolutely loved it! I recommend getting take out because it gets pretty busy in there , especially on weekends. Get a pint of rice and beans and holy cow you're Set for a couple of days! The women who work here are absolutely lovely and friendly. Don't be shy if you don't speak Spanish they'll totally be patient and work with you!
(5)
Carlos G.
The best refried beans ever, I think they use lard. I had the adobo stew and barbacoa, both great. The service is great, our waitress was very attentive. This is a no frills cafeteria for mexican food. We have used them for catering before and i would recommend fo rthat as well.
(4)
Diana A.
The food is very authentic and delicious. Too bad I can't say anything good about the service. The manager (only man there) bosses all the women around in a very rude manner. I don't blame them, I can see they are trying their best to get orders out while he stands and hovers around. While I waited for my order, about ten more were taken but none of them were being prepared. Not to mention a group of 5 business men having to cancel their order because their lunch break was up. I waited 25 min for a to go order.
(4)
Shambavi K.
dozen tamales for $11 or a $1 each...I'm there! We stopped in this unpretentious, quick service authentic Mexican taquerilla which is owned by the grocery store next door (same name). Many local regulars and families seemed to come in. The people taking the orders were helpful to us fairly confused non-Mexicans to decide on how many tamales and what dishes to get. I really wished they had labels on each of the dishes behind the counter. I tried to see what the seasoned customers were ordering. Machacado Con Huevo a la Mexicana (scrambled eggs with shredded beef, peppers, onions with a side of rice and beans) were pretty good. we opted for flour torillas. this dish reminded me of South Indian kothu parata taste wise. Not a lot of meat but still tasty. The Costillas De Puerco ( pork ribs) in green tomatilla sauce was freaking delicious. the stewed green sauce was great to eat with rice and beans. super tender meat. We were told to sit down wherever after ordering. I'm not sure how the wait staff knew which table ordered what....it's not like they seated us or gave us a table number. It was just a mystery to me but whatever operational procedures they had was functional. I hope to go back to try other dishes next time.
(4)
Lauren D.
The beans. Beans, for me, are the marker of a superb Mexican. If the beans are good usually the rest of the menu follow. I was hungover so I ordered the Chilaquiles Verdes. Service is "slow," but I was ok about this. Food came out piping hot. The chilaquiles were AMAZING. The chips were still crisp, the green sauce was "creeper" spicy, where the heat just builds up in your mouth... layering down spiciness that you don't notice until it crescendoes. Que Rico Sabor! The beans were sooo "meaty" tasting. Probably made with real manteca de cerdo. Now I need to go back to Chicago to sample their famous tamales.
(5)
Patty C.
The pork tamales are very good. The pollo en mole taco was also very good. I didn't really like the pescado (fish) taco as it was fried too hard. The steak and pork tacos were just okay. The horchata tastes artificial. The menudo was pretty good. The server was very friendly. I think I'll come back for the tamales only.
(3)
Gina V.
I been coming to la casa del pueblo because my dad used to get me mole rojo with refried bean every Saturday 25 years ago. It was nice of him to always think about us on the weekends. I personally do not the food ok I do but the food does not like me. I bring my mom from time to time because they still have the same service from 25 yrs ago. Time seemed to freeze here. They have Caldo de res, lengua, pork in green mole, tortas de Camaron with nopales this is my favorite dish. The prices are not bad. They also have corn tamales, and chocolate champurrado.
(2)
Karen M.
I moved from Texas about 15 years ago and just ate here tonight for the first time. THE BEST TACOS I have ever eaten here in the Chicago area. I wish I lived closer...I would eat here all the time. Had a steak taco. Lots and lots of flavor!! Will definitely be returning very soon! The restaurant was decorated very tastefully with a nice mix of old school and modern charm. The only negative is that there was no changing station in the bathroom for our six month old baby. Hopefully, this change will be made soon. (Mommies look for things like this when we eat out.) Thank you, La Casa, for a really delicious evening! By the way, there is an ice cream place across the street that is PERFECT for a light dessert.
(4)
Michelangelo V.
Omg it used to be just ok now its horrible like idk what happened to this place the quality n the flavor has completely left i would not recommend to anyone to come here ever there are so many better mexican restaurants in chicago
(1)
Jes C.
The pork tamales are the best!!! Also the breakfast is fantastic! Actually everything is pretty damn delicious.
(5)
Linda M.
Great Mexican food. I tried calling ahead for pick up but no one answered the phone so I had to go in and wait. No big deal. You can tell the beans have Manteca in them so I'm not a huge fan but the flautas were good and I was tempted by a lot of other options like their chile rellenos and albondigas.
(4)
Cindy V.
Ordered the pork tamale in red sauce and it was pretty good. I also ordered a taco on a flour tortillas with beans and their famous egg and potato. Delicious! The beans are good, rice not so much! Went to the bathroom and it was really dirty! Dried poop on the toilet! I'm sorry but to me that's really nasty. In my book every restaurant should have an impeccable bathroom for both customers and for the employees that are handling our food! I will definitely not return here which is a shame bc this was a staple restaurant in my childhood!
(2)
Michael R.
The food here is amazing!!!!! All of the locals frequent this place and I have never heard a bad thing about it. I love the potato and egg tacos and their tamales are the best you will find! Don't forget a chumparado!
(5)
George A.
A must try Mexican joint in Pilsen! We specifically were seeking out soup, and tried their pozole and caldo de pollo. Both were outstanding! The chicken soup broth was delicate and had that rich, natural chicken flavor that was most likely the result of a long, deep raw chicken bath. We also tried the pork tamales, also a must try! If you are looking for chill, authenthic, great value Mexican food, this is your spot! Also, their servers are super nice and friendly.
(5)
Michael C.
Hmmm. I always go into Pilsen expecting bomb Mexican food. My coworkers decided to come here for grub before we grabbed some drinks next door. Many of them ordered a combination of tamales and tacos which they were all generally pleased with. Feeling particularly ravenous, I opted for the carne asada burrito. Everything was fine except for the most important part: the carne asada. It was so darn chewy I had to end up just swallowing the bite sized chunks because my jaws ended up getting pretty tired. Also, there wasn't much char or grilled flavor and I had to load up on salsa for some flavor. I was sadly unimpressed but the burrito was under five dollars and the general happiness of my group leads to this three star review.
(3)
Kyle A.
Nice food
(5)
Gracie G.
I love the Casa Del Pueblo best tamales everyday I love their food and very reasonable prices.
(5)
RickyRicardo C.
BYOB! Food is good. Service is good. If they aren't sold out yet get a couple dozen tamales on your way out.
(5)
Nicki P.
This is my go to place for tamales, I've never had any that have come so close to my great grandmother's except these! Perfect ratio of greasy to meaty. Amazing flavor and variety! I ordered 10 dozen for a brunch and they all went!
(4)
C W.
This place was such a let down. Food was sloppy and lacking flavor I couldn't eat more than two bites. Service was as bad as expected (which wouldn't have mattered if the food was good). Coffee was nothing more than brown water. For two meals, a side, and two coffees, the bill came to about $30; wasn't worth $5.
(1)
Cruz R.
Went to Casa de Peublo restaurant. The lines are always long, just to get Tamales, there are 15 waitresses and no one handles the ordering area, the owner just stands around, waitresses moving around , no physical person taking orders, Tamales used to be great, very little MAZA, and alot of meat, now alot of MAZA and no meat. I drive from Cicero to get to restaurant, i think I'm going to start buying at La Justicia on 26 th st.
(1)
Aaron Jae M.
Came here after searching for the best tamale in Chicago. Yelp reviews told me it was this place and I was not disappointed. You can order them by the dozen for carry out and that's exactly what I did (you save a couple bucks, otherwise they're a dollar a piece) They were not dry and tasted delicious. I wish I got some salsa with it but I bet I could have got some if I had just asked while I was there (even though I definitely expect them to include it). Will definitely be here again to try more of their tamales (and possible some of their other foods). They have five or six types ranging from pork to chicken to cheese.
(4)
L. Asher C.
Great food and great service. Everything was good especially the mole and the lomo. Mole was really excellent.
(5)
Stacey H.
Amazing tamales. That's what you should focus on. They are patient with English speakers (definitely not the native language here). Get a side of salsa verde which is perfectly spicy and you're set for the perfect cheap Pilsen meal. I also got a chicken taco (not in the mole). The chicken was mindblowing but pretty soggy so it destroyed the tortilla. But that's not what I came for anyways. Cash only under $10
(4)
Kelly S.
So this was my first time coming to this restauant. And let me say that it is a good thing that I dont live closer because I would eat here everyday. I went with two girlfriends, one of which is Mexican. Since I cant speak/read spanish she ordered for us. All I can say is it was AMAZING!!!! My new motto is 'will work for bean'. The refried beans wanted to make me sob like a child they were so good. I found it amazing that the whole time we were there the traffic never stopped. It was obvious to me that everyone in the area new about this treasure of a place. I will be going back here again!!
(5)
Jeff C.
Delicious, reasonable Mexican diner. You order at a counter and they bring it to your table. Friendly staff. The meat-stuffed peppers were awesome. Have lunch here then pick up your groceries at the market across the parking lot.
(4)
Guy I.
I can't get enough of this place. I do my best to hit this place up every time I'm in the Chicago area. I grew up one block directly south of its location and I remember when "La Casa Del Pueblo Taqueria" first opened back in the 1980's. When it first opened it actually operated within La Casa Del Pueblo grocery store, over on the east side of the building. They were so successful, that they eventually moved to their current location across the parking lot to the grocery store. The food is really, really good; it's not fine dining in any sense of the word, but the traditional Mexican food they have to offer is damn good. It is a cafeteria style set up, and the dining room is nothing fancy and pretty much consists of 4 seater tables (some pushed together) with chairs. Don't think about it, just go. I believe there's a very high chance that you will be Yelping about this place as well. Trust me, I'm Mexican. P.s. try the tamales.
(4)
Junior D.
Any time I come here it feels like I'm eating in my mom's kitchen.. and that is a great compliment my friends... You don't come here for tacos!!! Thats what Tito's Hacienda is for which is like 30 feet south of this restaurant. Which reminds me I have to review very soon. You come here to get an authentic plate of mexican food.. My favorite is barbacoa and the eggs and potatoes are just like momma makes them. They have plenty of homemade soups/caldos, stews made from either pork or beef along with some delicious tamales... Never have I had a bad tamale here.. ALWAYS fresh!!!! I also love the fact that all the cooks are mostly mexican woman.. that probably explains the fact that this is the only restaurant that I can compare to my mothers delicious food!!! So next time the line is too long at Nuevo Leon on a weekend,, Trust me and visit this spot and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Hugh B.
Not much to look, at but the restaurant is clean, the staff kind and accommodating, and the food tasty and authentic. Actually, I am a Jew from the northern suburbs so I don't really know if the food is authentic, but it SEEMS authentic. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you, and then after you eat you pay at the cash register. We get tacos and tamales and they've always been tasty. And the rice and beans are delicious. Probably because the beans are full of lard. But so are we, so it all works. And here's the best part: if you jump up and down and flap your arms and squawk like a chicken to the man at the cash register, you get your meal for half price. Try it and you will see.
(4)
Ali C.
La Casa Del Pueblo Taqueria (located down the street from the grocery store with the same name) is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Pilsen! Their sauces are extremely flavorful and everything is cooked with love. Also,it's a great deal on tamales that are nice and salty. I actually found the vegetarian tamales to be more flavorful than the meat ones. It's cafeteria-style without much ambiance, so the food really is what brings people back.
(5)
David P.
I would come here with my dad when i was little and always order a breaded fish fillet plate. I even got to go when it was still attached to the grocery store! Apart from nostalgic value for me this place has very very good Mexican food. Might not seem like much when you walk in but your taste buds will thank you . Thank you La Casa Del Pueblo for being you!
(5)
Ali H.
Hmm. I wanted to love it. I didn't. I'll probably check it out again since they seem to have generally favorable reviews, but the taco that I had here recently definitely had meat on it that was totally inedible to anyone/anything with a standard set of teeth. I was really hungry so I tore and tugged and gnawed but it was absolutely a no-go. Hmm. But the horchata was good. I'll try it again.
(3)
Picky C.
Me and my grandmother literally stood in line for 20 minutes before placing our order and it wasnt even full. I didnt leave because my grandmother really wanted their ava lentil soup. Their agua de orchata was way too sweet. My grandmother enjoyed the food, but I did not eat a thing. To be honest the place is simple and not too much to it. If they had better customer service I might have enjoyed the place.
(2)
Ginelle S.
Ok. So...I've never lived in Pilsen. Totally a Midway Messican. Archer Ave. is my rainbow road, anything north of McKinley is north side, I understand the subtle regional/cultural differences between Polish Highlanders and Warsaw folk, etc. HOWEVER, tell me why when I walked into La Casa Del Pueblo, I felt like I was home?! First off, the food is amazing. After I ordered at the counter, the little abuelitas made my kick+ass pozole and brought it to my table with a little shoulder pat and a knowing smile, like they knew I didn't go to church that morning, but the goodness of the pozole would seep in by osmosis or something. Seriously, like some 'water for chocolate' ish. From what I saw, the cooks/waitresses are all abuelitas, that KNOW how to make amazing. LCDP, till we meet again....and this time I'll remember to rezarme antes de venir.
(5)
susan c.
Love the rajas con queso, puffy Mexican cheese in a delicious sauce with strips of pepper available early. Order holiday tamales about a month in advance. Like eating at home.
(5)
Heather L.
Great burrito, delicious tacos, good guacamole. Casual restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. The price is right, and the food is really, very good. I'll be back.
(4)
Richard R.
our company placed rather large order, as we tried to order the person who answered the phone was not knowledgeable of the menu and when asked about a certain item she responded with an attitude and demeaning tone. The service was slow and most of the people taking the orders are not hospitable at all. Other than that the food it self is good.
(2)
Angela Z.
This is our GO TO tamale place. Of all the tamales I have ever had this is by far my favorite. Over the years the cost for tamales has risen drastically but I still find it hard to resist buying them. If you go there to eat the other food it is all really fresh and tasty.
(4)
Ted C.
My friend comes here for the tamales-the pork ones and on our Mexican food adventure we decided to add tamales to our complement of tacos from the area. Atotonilco=stellar, Los Comales=still good but nowhere near the league of Atotonilco. Anyways, the layout reminds me of a cafeteria and not so much a restaurant. You go up to a counter-which if you ate there would require getting a tray and moving from station to station but since we were taking ours to go we just asked for 6 tamales-the pork aka the red ones. The tamales were really good-so moist and and tasty. The masa and the meat really balanced well and I ate 4 of them quickly before I realized how filling they were. Best tamales I've ever had.
(4)
Doreen M.
This is a really unique, beautiful, busy place, and it's all run by women. I can't resist it every time I'm in the neighborhood. Their chicken mole is magical and it's always a challenge to order something other than the mole, but other favorites include the caldo del res and their chile rejenos. They can certainly do better on the chips, since El Milagro across the street also has a strong draw.
(5)
Laila C.
stop #2 on the taqueria hop. The layout is a bit like a cafeteria. You go up to the counter, where they have tubes of food and you order whatever you like in half pints or pints. After some hearty goat tacos, I was already pretty filled up, but seeing the chicharrónes and tamales I had to get more food! I ordered a half pint of chicharrónes to bring home to bf since he's obsessed with gordita chicharrónes, a spicy beef dish, and a few tamales. They sell 3 different flavors of tamales and I got 2 chickens and 2 beefs. Both were FANTASTIC! Nothing's better than a delicious tamale filled with flavorful meats and spices! Couldn't help myself and had to sample some spicy beef and ended up sharing the whole half pint with my friend. I felt like a kid in a candy store and I'm really hoping to go back on a more empty stomach and sampling lots more goodies!
(4)
Robert R.
I have been lucky to have grown up in Chicago and eating authentic home made Cuban, Puerto Rican and Mexican food. I am Mexican American and have to say that Casa Del Pueblo Rocks! Forget about Lalo's and most other Mexican food places, they are nowhere near the home made taste of Puebla. Highest possible rating, glad my co-worker introduced me to the place, because I thought El Milagro, right down the street on Blue Island Ave. or before that Nuevo Leon were the best, but we have found a new winner hands down! I am addicted.
(5)
Victor V.
I thought of traveling overseas this holiday, and I just did. La Casa might as well be in Pueblo district of Mexico, that whole neighborhood might. The buildings are slightly delapidationg yet dignified, the locals don't speak english, and yet they do. The restaurant is just inexpensive enough to appeal to dining on a budget, yet nothing seems cheep. Stuffed peppers are a delight, and the molle is just about the best in town. Friend and I brought in a $35.00 bottle of Scotch, and it didn't seem out of place at all. And on top, they open daily at 6:00 a.m., and ALWAYS have tripe soup!!
(4)
Carolina C.
Authentic Mexican food. Dishes that are typically found in a Mexican home. I can eat here everyday, which by the way I find that I sometimes do. Cafeteria setting. (Pick your food, sit down, eat, get up and go pay.)
(5)
Liz G.
I was having a craving for tamales and after a quick google/yelp search this was determined to be the best option to drive to from my office. It's a no frills, cafeteria style restaurant with a lot of delicious options. Obviously, I went for the tamales, but ended up walking out with some chiles rellenos as well. I was able to con my coworker with an incredibly vanilla palate into trying one of the chiles rellenos and they were delicious enough that I've got a new convert to drag with me on my next trip. I'll certainly be heading back.
(4)
Ebi C.
This place has been one of my family's favorite restaurants for over 30 years! My grandfather used to hang out in the restaurant and chisme with the neighbors over delicious beef stew and rice. Now I share the tradition with my nieces over fresh chicken tamales accompanied by ooey-gooey quesadillas (no other Mexican restaurant in Chicago makes such decadent pockets of deep fried delight). Their champurado soothes the soul on cold Chicago mornings. I love the waitresses: perfect blend of sass, kindness, and speed. Please support this culinary gem!
(5)
Nick L.
To me this place captures the essence and beauty of homestyle Mexican cooking. It took me a long time to fully appreciate the simple comfort of well-prepared guisados (stews). My eyes would glaze over the mysterious looking trays on the steam table in search of the standard issue proteins (chorizo, pastor, asada, barbacoa) that neatly slot into the carb vehicle of choice. Now I've seen the light. There's nothing at a standard issue taqueria that stands up to the earthy, complex flavors of these long-simmered stews. When generously ladled over fresh tortillas and a mortar of expertly cooked rice and beans, they become a virtual street food tour of Mexico City that no Rick Bayless venture can even approach, much less co-opt. The asado de puerco (fatty nuggets of pork shoulder bathed in a deep red guajillo sauce redolent of oregano) has an addictive quality that may land it in the top five taco experiences I've ever had. The chicharrones en salsa verde, picadillo, and housemade chiles rellenos are alo very good. The women who work here really know what they're doing and obviously take pride in their food. I suggest going earlier in the day when everything's fresh. Lunch is good, but an early breakfast bumping elbows with Pilsen's proletariat is ideal.
(5)
Phil F.
This place is nothing fancy at all, it is just like you would find in Mexico. Just a caferteria nada mas. Its like totally a place to eat, not to be impressed by anything else. But the food is really delicious and they have a lot of options. The chile relleno was amazingly good, so was the barbacoa, and even the tortillas were scrumptious. Knowing some spanish helps here too. Its real Pilsen-y. There was so much on the steam table line, that I have to go back soon.
(5)
Shayan R.
Best tamales hands down. I used to live in LA and get my tamales from my friend's mom in East LA. These are as close to the original as it can get. I loved the pork and the chicken ones. Just enough soft masa not to overpower the tender meat. All the food is homemade right down to the re-fried beans (which are so tasty). It's a hole in the wall but the people work there are very kind and accommodating. You don't have to know Spanish to order but the menu is in Spanish. At the very least, you should know your way around a Mexican menu or bring someone along who does.
(5)
Three g.
I came here for one reason.... I had an urge for tamales. Its a low key cafeteria-like place, and quite friendly. You just go up, take a look at the posted menu and order tamales - you can order individual ones or a dozen for $10, and the package is full of a dozen hot tamales wrapped in aluminum foil. I brought these home for the family - a dozen cheese and chili and a dozen pork... and it was heavenly. Really fantastic tamales - some of the best I've ever had. Just the right amount of filling, the texture of the masa was perfect, the green chile had the right spice and the pork was tasty. I'll be making this a regular stop on my way home from work now.
(5)
Michael C.
I always get the plato with rice beans and barbacoa, wow, since the food sits in a hot tray it simmers in juices all morning just waiting for the next person to order so it can be placed onto a plate with its juices running everywhere ....mmmmmm....the rice and beans are on point and the green salsa is just right with the perfect touch of spice to it....match this with perfect prices and nice smiles everytime you have a great place...
(5)
Devin C.
I went here on a whim today on the way to the grocery store next door. I had high hopes upon walking in, since the place seems nice enough, well appointed, and the service was great. However, the food was not so great. I ordered 3 tacos with onions and cilantro and cheese, and a coke. They were so bland and slimy that I gave up after taco two, and didn't even bother to wrap the third up to go because I know I wouldn't get back around to eating it. Then the kicker, my meal was $10. For three very non-gourmet tacos and a bottle of coca-cola. Upon checking the reciept, a small dusting of cheese on each taco was $.75 extra with no warning. Maybe you'll have a better experience than I did, but I won't be going back.
(1)
Yolanda M.
Mexican food at its best. Cafeteria style, not fancy, but the most delicious food. Better than mom's (sorry, mom!). The ladies make their own tortillas. If you like spicy food, ask for the lomo de res en chile de arbol.
(5)
Leticia L.
Casa del Pueblo takes me back to my childhood. The smells are reminicent of a little me sitting in my Grandma's kitchen watching her make dinner wondering "when can we eat"? At casa they make deliciously authentic traditional Mexican dishes. They have a cafeteria style setup however, you can order enchiladas and other dishes off the menu if you choose. They don't use short cuts or add in new dishes to try and please new clientele. They stick to the basics and that is what makes them so popular. I am a fan of their enchiladas, carne con chile, chiles rellenos and their caldo de res. I can honestly say I have NEVER had a bad experience here. My great aunt introduced us to this place when we lived in Pilsen about 6 years ago and we have been fans ever since.
(5)
Eighteenth Street D.
This cafeteria style restaurants features excellent homestyle Mexican cooking. Try the chiles rellenos stuffed with ground beef, carrots, potatoes and raisins a must have comfort food in the Pilsen community. Or come in for one of the daily specials like Monday's albonigas rolled with white rice and served in a soupy tomato broth. You'll keep coming back for the tasty authentic food at this restaurant.
(4)
Rachel B.
On the fourth day, God created mole poblano and he saw it was good. And he lay down his hand upon the lady who works behind the counter at La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria and imparted upon her the sacred knowledge and she was like, "Wow, that does sound pretty freaking good!" and she poured all the mole poblano upon the chicken enchiladas of truth and garnished the plate with rice, beans, lettuce, and tomato and handed me a glass bottle coke, and I knew it was good. REALLY. GOOD.
(5)
Maria C.
We ordered lunch from this place so I have no idea what it looks like from the inside but the food itself is really good. I had the Bistek en Rajas which is basically steak cut up w/ tomato sauce, peppers and onions, kind of like fajitas. It came w/ rice, beans and of course the tortillas. It was a meal for one person but could of easily served 2. I also had a pork tamale which was really tender and was so delicious I wish I could of ordered two. I really don't like spicy food, and this was just right. I'll be sure to hit this spot in person and taste other things in the menu. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Cynthia A.
Breakfast, who knew. For all those who think they know who makes the best Mexican breakfast, they are wrong. This is the best Mexican breakfast in the world, including Mexico. Very local, you may be the only Gringos there, but they will treat you great. Get used to the cafeteria style and get to know the servers, they are our friends now. The Huevos Rancheros are pretty darn sparky, so beware. The eggs are always cooked to perfection, the sauce is always so tasty--not that big, chunky sauce--the real pureed hot ranchero sauce. I defy you to find better beans--there is no such thing. And the rice is nice, pink, and fluffy. Travel from wherever you are and experience this treat before you die.
(5)
Andrew L.
I've been coming to this place since I was a kid and it's one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants you can pick in Pilsen. The food is reasonably priced and it's served with haste. I recommend getting a plate of food and the horchata too. A typical meal, 2 plates (beans, rice and main dish) plus 2 horchatas will cost about 19 bucks. Not bad eh? Sometimes people will come in and sing in Spanish too. It's pretty authentic and a great experience.
(5)
Anthony S.
The tamales here were very tasty. We ordered six of the pork tamales in red sauce and six of the regular pork tamales. The corn dough was perfect, not too stiff or doughy like at some places and the pork was very tender. The consensus amongst our party was that the regular pork tamales were spicier than the ones in red sauce. If either type of tamale isn't spicy enough for you throw some of the pico de gallo that they serve with it, on top.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :1810 S Blue Island Ave
Chicago, IL, 60608
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jasmine S.
la casa del pueblo.. what out of the many good things can i say about my #1 spot? first off let me just say my family and i have been going for years. since i was a child i am now 23 going on 24. their tamales are the only ones ill ever go in this cold weather for. their torta de camaron is to die for!!! or my personal favorite tacos de huevo con papa.. honestly if i can just somehow live there or near there i would in a heart beat.. another thing my family is very close to diana.. everytime we go we ask for her to attend us, not because we are picky, but because she makes us feel at home. dont get me wrong the other waitress' are awesome as well. casa del pueblo is my #1 spot always has been always will be til the day i die!!!!
(5)Erika D.
It doesn't get any more authentic than this! Enough said =)
(5)Reggie H.
Tamales often call you and then the craving begins. La Casa Del Pueblo scratches this reoccurring itch perfectly. The home style eatery serves authentic Mexican dishes that leave you feeling all warm and fully satisfied. It's a friendly restaurant with good service and fresh food. Today the tamales were pork and tasted fantastic. The masa was moist and just the right balance with the filling. We also had the chicken with mole sause which was excellent. I had to add a taco of the day; el Pastor which is my favorite style. It was great and I'll be back with my hunger ready to dine again.
(4)Janna B.
My boyfriend and I came for the first time today. It was exactly what I described I wanted. The lady helping us was extremely nice and the place was clean as far as I could tell, however, I did not go in the bathroom and that's typically how you can tell. Anyway...the food was amazing. Warm chips was delicious salsa while we waited for our tamales and tacos. They also have orange Fanta in a glass bottle which is a huge plus in my book. I gave four stars because my boyfriend wasn't as big of a fan as I was and I wanted to include his opinion. But that's all I'll say about that...I'll be back for those delicious el pastor tacos.
(4)Cesar M.
Years on the making. A few years ago I was there with a friend and we got there about 45 minutes before they closed . We tried a few things but were not impressed at all. I thought that it was because they were closing soon. A few days ago I decided to give it another try. I was there with a friend for Sunday brunch (way before closing, obviously) I tried rajas con queso, barbacoa, puerco en salsa verde, tortas de camaron, asado de puerco and tamales. I am not a big barbacoa fan but I can eat a few tacos when is good. Why did I order it then?? I didn't, they messed up my order and once it was there I just told them just bring me the rajas con queso that I had ordered on the side. Barbacoa here was just OK. Rajas con queso was my favorite, flavorful and well prepared. Everything else that I tried was just Ok. I wanted to be amazed by this place but that did not happen. The tamales were dry and just ok in flavor. I can see it could be a great place with home style cooking it just need that little extra in the flavor. Service was nice and confusing at the same time. Is it a waiter service or a cafeteria style place??? A little of both. They have the food cafeteria style, but you sit down and they come and take your order. LCDPT ok food, nice service but I've had better
(3)Darren F.
they showed a episode of mexican food in Chicago's Best and this place was on there for one of the best tamales.. since i am a fan of tamales and still havnt found a restaurant that met my standards yet.. i decided to give it a try.. and this place is local to me it was 12 bucks for a dozen tamales or something.... i got 6 pork and 6 chicken... also got a pork with some red sauce(dont know what its called) taco.. the pork with red sauce taco was pretty good! there was a lot of flavors to it and the meat was juicy! the tamales on the other hand.. not so good.. they were smaller then normal tamales.. that's ok tho.. I got a dozen of them haha.. but there wasn't much meat in them at all.. that was disappointing.. it was like eating nothing but maza... eh.. I might come back to try a few other tacos but not getting tamales from here again..
(2)Sarah G.
These tacos were so big and definitely worth the money! Taco taco tacos! This a divey taqueria with some of the nicest employees ever. You could tell they really enjoy working there and love the food that they make. There is some food premade out cafeteria style sort of or you can order fresh tacos which is definitely the way to go. The tacos are $2.75 each which may seem pricey, but they are pretty big and packed with meat and flavor that I think they are worth every penny. We split a few tacos and their special al pastor definitely was the winner! Wow. So much flavor and spices on that al pastor I definitely did not want to share that taco with anyone! Then we got the chicken mole taco which also was really tasty but the chicken was served bone in which I was not expecting. So made that taco eating experience a little more interactive, but still the flavors were right one. Then we got the chicarron taco and that again was another winner. So you can't go wrong getting tacos here (although our friend ordered the fish taco and was underwhelmed so stick to pork I say!!!), and the service is so nice, and it may take a little while for you to get your food, it is BYOB so bring some beer and you are all set!
(4)Betty H.
Service: 5 friendly and quick Cleanliness: 3 tables were really dirty Food: 5 great steak tacos and a hearty gaucomole
(4)Emily C.
Came here for the tamales and I would definitely recommend the spicy pork ones - very good. We also tried the chicken, regular pork and cheese. Unfortunately, they were all pretty bland. That's all we tried so not sure about any of the other things on the menu. BYOB - we brought our own margaritas and they were nice about bringing us glasses of ice. 138/365
(3)Javier G.
Love the food here. Their tamales are some of the best around, pork, xhicken, peppers and cheese, and sweet . When you enter etiquette is to order food first then grab a table. They will bring the food to you.
(5)Danny W.
Just not as good (in my opinion) as other nearby taco places. It was recommended for the tacos, so I can't speak to the other menu items. That said, the mole taco had about three times as much mole as chicken, and the chile relleno taco sounded good on paper but didn't live up to the vision I'd hoped for.
(2)Chris C.
After seeing this on Chicago Best last night I went there today to check it out. I'm from Texas & love Mexican food and really enjoy fresh tamales & chile rellenos, both of which were highly recommended on the TV show. Unfortunately this was well below expectations for a number of reasons: My order was simple: 4 tamales w rice & beans to go. This is a tamale appetizer on their menu for $7.50. I asked for a sample of their flavors, 1 each of the cheese, sweet, beef, & bean tamales. You stand in line to order & they call you when your order is ready & you pay at that time. They also sell tamales by the dozen & when you ask for individual tamales they simply unwrap a pre-wrapped dozen of that type (kept warm in a steam tray) & put that on your plate or to-go container. The problem with this is not all of the pre-wrapped tamales are marked & you have to assume they will get the order correct. WRONG! I got 1 beef, 1 bean, 1 chicken, & 1 with a pepper in in it, no cheese or sweet. You won't know until you eat them if they are the right ones. There is a cafeteria style selection of prepared foods or you can order from the menu on the wall. They prepare meals by the order in which they are received so even though they have some food already prepared that would fill some of the orders (like mine) you still have to wait behind those in front of you who order something that might take a while to prepare. I waited about 25 minutes for a meal that could have been assembled to go in less than 5 minutes because of the orders ahead of me that had to be cooked to order. I don't know if they have had problems with orders being sent out before earlier orders in line or if they just haven't figured this out but it's very inefficient and frustrating for to-go orders. A man in front of me ordered 7 dozen tamales to go and had to wait the same 25 minutes even though they were already prepared & sitting in the warm tray until all of the others orders ahead of him were served. Red beef tamale, decent with a fair price ($1.25each) Chicken tamale - dry, no flavor Red tamale w pepper - good but not what I ordered Bean tamale - ok but nothing special Rice & beans, average - not bad 2 for food/ 1 for slow service / 1 for out of chile rellenos (don't know why) / 1 for bad serving procedure. The food I had was ok but not worth a drive to get there and not as good as many other Mexican places around town. People were nice & prices were mostly under $10 for a meal.
(2)Adam R.
Continuing the Pilsen taco crawl, La Casa Del Pueblo was the next victim. And to be honest, this one was kind of the black sheep. Most simple taquerias have a pretty simple vibe. Small, intimate, friendly, great smelling... There are tons of exceptions, but this one I hadn't seen before, and it's the suburban taco joint. Are there taco places in the suburbs? Hopefully, but I really don't know. But instead of the suburban crew kind of falling in line, the opposite happened. They made the place annoyingly loud and unpleasant. That would be bad enough, but the tacos were extremely bland. I took a close-up where you can see that there's just not much going on with the taco. No flavor. No love. And if you can't love your taco, it's time to move on.
(2)James V.
Hands down my favorite Mexican food in the city. I consider myself the expert of all Mexican food. There aren't too many places I haven't been! Casa is grand above all! Where else can you stand to order kitchen style then minutes late the lady's come to you're table with delicious authentic Mexican? Do not pass go.
(5)Erica L.
Cafeteria style, plenty of food. I firmly believe they have the greatest tamales! They have vegetarian options, bean and cheese, cheese and rajas, and sweet tamales. They catered our wedding back in October and it was amazing! Huge portions, very affordable, they delivered it to the reception at a small cost, and they were very friendly! We did a half vegetarian and half meat menu. All of our guests both white and Mexican absolutely loved it! I recommend getting take out because it gets pretty busy in there , especially on weekends. Get a pint of rice and beans and holy cow you're Set for a couple of days! The women who work here are absolutely lovely and friendly. Don't be shy if you don't speak Spanish they'll totally be patient and work with you!
(5)Carlos G.
The best refried beans ever, I think they use lard. I had the adobo stew and barbacoa, both great. The service is great, our waitress was very attentive. This is a no frills cafeteria for mexican food. We have used them for catering before and i would recommend fo rthat as well.
(4)Diana A.
The food is very authentic and delicious. Too bad I can't say anything good about the service. The manager (only man there) bosses all the women around in a very rude manner. I don't blame them, I can see they are trying their best to get orders out while he stands and hovers around. While I waited for my order, about ten more were taken but none of them were being prepared. Not to mention a group of 5 business men having to cancel their order because their lunch break was up. I waited 25 min for a to go order.
(4)Shambavi K.
dozen tamales for $11 or a $1 each...I'm there! We stopped in this unpretentious, quick service authentic Mexican taquerilla which is owned by the grocery store next door (same name). Many local regulars and families seemed to come in. The people taking the orders were helpful to us fairly confused non-Mexicans to decide on how many tamales and what dishes to get. I really wished they had labels on each of the dishes behind the counter. I tried to see what the seasoned customers were ordering. Machacado Con Huevo a la Mexicana (scrambled eggs with shredded beef, peppers, onions with a side of rice and beans) were pretty good. we opted for flour torillas. this dish reminded me of South Indian kothu parata taste wise. Not a lot of meat but still tasty. The Costillas De Puerco ( pork ribs) in green tomatilla sauce was freaking delicious. the stewed green sauce was great to eat with rice and beans. super tender meat. We were told to sit down wherever after ordering. I'm not sure how the wait staff knew which table ordered what....it's not like they seated us or gave us a table number. It was just a mystery to me but whatever operational procedures they had was functional. I hope to go back to try other dishes next time.
(4)Lauren D.
The beans. Beans, for me, are the marker of a superb Mexican. If the beans are good usually the rest of the menu follow. I was hungover so I ordered the Chilaquiles Verdes. Service is "slow," but I was ok about this. Food came out piping hot. The chilaquiles were AMAZING. The chips were still crisp, the green sauce was "creeper" spicy, where the heat just builds up in your mouth... layering down spiciness that you don't notice until it crescendoes. Que Rico Sabor! The beans were sooo "meaty" tasting. Probably made with real manteca de cerdo. Now I need to go back to Chicago to sample their famous tamales.
(5)Patty C.
The pork tamales are very good. The pollo en mole taco was also very good. I didn't really like the pescado (fish) taco as it was fried too hard. The steak and pork tacos were just okay. The horchata tastes artificial. The menudo was pretty good. The server was very friendly. I think I'll come back for the tamales only.
(3)Gina V.
I been coming to la casa del pueblo because my dad used to get me mole rojo with refried bean every Saturday 25 years ago. It was nice of him to always think about us on the weekends. I personally do not the food ok I do but the food does not like me. I bring my mom from time to time because they still have the same service from 25 yrs ago. Time seemed to freeze here. They have Caldo de res, lengua, pork in green mole, tortas de Camaron with nopales this is my favorite dish. The prices are not bad. They also have corn tamales, and chocolate champurrado.
(2)Karen M.
I moved from Texas about 15 years ago and just ate here tonight for the first time. THE BEST TACOS I have ever eaten here in the Chicago area. I wish I lived closer...I would eat here all the time. Had a steak taco. Lots and lots of flavor!! Will definitely be returning very soon! The restaurant was decorated very tastefully with a nice mix of old school and modern charm. The only negative is that there was no changing station in the bathroom for our six month old baby. Hopefully, this change will be made soon. (Mommies look for things like this when we eat out.) Thank you, La Casa, for a really delicious evening! By the way, there is an ice cream place across the street that is PERFECT for a light dessert.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Omg it used to be just ok now its horrible like idk what happened to this place the quality n the flavor has completely left i would not recommend to anyone to come here ever there are so many better mexican restaurants in chicago
(1)Jes C.
The pork tamales are the best!!! Also the breakfast is fantastic! Actually everything is pretty damn delicious.
(5)Linda M.
Great Mexican food. I tried calling ahead for pick up but no one answered the phone so I had to go in and wait. No big deal. You can tell the beans have Manteca in them so I'm not a huge fan but the flautas were good and I was tempted by a lot of other options like their chile rellenos and albondigas.
(4)Cindy V.
Ordered the pork tamale in red sauce and it was pretty good. I also ordered a taco on a flour tortillas with beans and their famous egg and potato. Delicious! The beans are good, rice not so much! Went to the bathroom and it was really dirty! Dried poop on the toilet! I'm sorry but to me that's really nasty. In my book every restaurant should have an impeccable bathroom for both customers and for the employees that are handling our food! I will definitely not return here which is a shame bc this was a staple restaurant in my childhood!
(2)Michael R.
The food here is amazing!!!!! All of the locals frequent this place and I have never heard a bad thing about it. I love the potato and egg tacos and their tamales are the best you will find! Don't forget a chumparado!
(5)George A.
A must try Mexican joint in Pilsen! We specifically were seeking out soup, and tried their pozole and caldo de pollo. Both were outstanding! The chicken soup broth was delicate and had that rich, natural chicken flavor that was most likely the result of a long, deep raw chicken bath. We also tried the pork tamales, also a must try! If you are looking for chill, authenthic, great value Mexican food, this is your spot! Also, their servers are super nice and friendly.
(5)Michael C.
Hmmm. I always go into Pilsen expecting bomb Mexican food. My coworkers decided to come here for grub before we grabbed some drinks next door. Many of them ordered a combination of tamales and tacos which they were all generally pleased with. Feeling particularly ravenous, I opted for the carne asada burrito. Everything was fine except for the most important part: the carne asada. It was so darn chewy I had to end up just swallowing the bite sized chunks because my jaws ended up getting pretty tired. Also, there wasn't much char or grilled flavor and I had to load up on salsa for some flavor. I was sadly unimpressed but the burrito was under five dollars and the general happiness of my group leads to this three star review.
(3)Kyle A.
Nice food
(5)Gracie G.
I love the Casa Del Pueblo best tamales everyday I love their food and very reasonable prices.
(5)RickyRicardo C.
BYOB! Food is good. Service is good. If they aren't sold out yet get a couple dozen tamales on your way out.
(5)Nicki P.
This is my go to place for tamales, I've never had any that have come so close to my great grandmother's except these! Perfect ratio of greasy to meaty. Amazing flavor and variety! I ordered 10 dozen for a brunch and they all went!
(4)C W.
This place was such a let down. Food was sloppy and lacking flavor I couldn't eat more than two bites. Service was as bad as expected (which wouldn't have mattered if the food was good). Coffee was nothing more than brown water. For two meals, a side, and two coffees, the bill came to about $30; wasn't worth $5.
(1)Cruz R.
Went to Casa de Peublo restaurant. The lines are always long, just to get Tamales, there are 15 waitresses and no one handles the ordering area, the owner just stands around, waitresses moving around , no physical person taking orders, Tamales used to be great, very little MAZA, and alot of meat, now alot of MAZA and no meat. I drive from Cicero to get to restaurant, i think I'm going to start buying at La Justicia on 26 th st.
(1)Aaron Jae M.
Came here after searching for the best tamale in Chicago. Yelp reviews told me it was this place and I was not disappointed. You can order them by the dozen for carry out and that's exactly what I did (you save a couple bucks, otherwise they're a dollar a piece) They were not dry and tasted delicious. I wish I got some salsa with it but I bet I could have got some if I had just asked while I was there (even though I definitely expect them to include it). Will definitely be here again to try more of their tamales (and possible some of their other foods). They have five or six types ranging from pork to chicken to cheese.
(4)L. Asher C.
Great food and great service. Everything was good especially the mole and the lomo. Mole was really excellent.
(5)Stacey H.
Amazing tamales. That's what you should focus on. They are patient with English speakers (definitely not the native language here). Get a side of salsa verde which is perfectly spicy and you're set for the perfect cheap Pilsen meal. I also got a chicken taco (not in the mole). The chicken was mindblowing but pretty soggy so it destroyed the tortilla. But that's not what I came for anyways. Cash only under $10
(4)Kelly S.
So this was my first time coming to this restauant. And let me say that it is a good thing that I dont live closer because I would eat here everyday. I went with two girlfriends, one of which is Mexican. Since I cant speak/read spanish she ordered for us. All I can say is it was AMAZING!!!! My new motto is 'will work for bean'. The refried beans wanted to make me sob like a child they were so good. I found it amazing that the whole time we were there the traffic never stopped. It was obvious to me that everyone in the area new about this treasure of a place. I will be going back here again!!
(5)Jeff C.
Delicious, reasonable Mexican diner. You order at a counter and they bring it to your table. Friendly staff. The meat-stuffed peppers were awesome. Have lunch here then pick up your groceries at the market across the parking lot.
(4)Guy I.
I can't get enough of this place. I do my best to hit this place up every time I'm in the Chicago area. I grew up one block directly south of its location and I remember when "La Casa Del Pueblo Taqueria" first opened back in the 1980's. When it first opened it actually operated within La Casa Del Pueblo grocery store, over on the east side of the building. They were so successful, that they eventually moved to their current location across the parking lot to the grocery store. The food is really, really good; it's not fine dining in any sense of the word, but the traditional Mexican food they have to offer is damn good. It is a cafeteria style set up, and the dining room is nothing fancy and pretty much consists of 4 seater tables (some pushed together) with chairs. Don't think about it, just go. I believe there's a very high chance that you will be Yelping about this place as well. Trust me, I'm Mexican. P.s. try the tamales.
(4)Junior D.
Any time I come here it feels like I'm eating in my mom's kitchen.. and that is a great compliment my friends... You don't come here for tacos!!! Thats what Tito's Hacienda is for which is like 30 feet south of this restaurant. Which reminds me I have to review very soon. You come here to get an authentic plate of mexican food.. My favorite is barbacoa and the eggs and potatoes are just like momma makes them. They have plenty of homemade soups/caldos, stews made from either pork or beef along with some delicious tamales... Never have I had a bad tamale here.. ALWAYS fresh!!!! I also love the fact that all the cooks are mostly mexican woman.. that probably explains the fact that this is the only restaurant that I can compare to my mothers delicious food!!! So next time the line is too long at Nuevo Leon on a weekend,, Trust me and visit this spot and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Hugh B.
Not much to look, at but the restaurant is clean, the staff kind and accommodating, and the food tasty and authentic. Actually, I am a Jew from the northern suburbs so I don't really know if the food is authentic, but it SEEMS authentic. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you, and then after you eat you pay at the cash register. We get tacos and tamales and they've always been tasty. And the rice and beans are delicious. Probably because the beans are full of lard. But so are we, so it all works. And here's the best part: if you jump up and down and flap your arms and squawk like a chicken to the man at the cash register, you get your meal for half price. Try it and you will see.
(4)Ali C.
La Casa Del Pueblo Taqueria (located down the street from the grocery store with the same name) is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Pilsen! Their sauces are extremely flavorful and everything is cooked with love. Also,it's a great deal on tamales that are nice and salty. I actually found the vegetarian tamales to be more flavorful than the meat ones. It's cafeteria-style without much ambiance, so the food really is what brings people back.
(5)David P.
I would come here with my dad when i was little and always order a breaded fish fillet plate. I even got to go when it was still attached to the grocery store! Apart from nostalgic value for me this place has very very good Mexican food. Might not seem like much when you walk in but your taste buds will thank you . Thank you La Casa Del Pueblo for being you!
(5)Ali H.
Hmm. I wanted to love it. I didn't. I'll probably check it out again since they seem to have generally favorable reviews, but the taco that I had here recently definitely had meat on it that was totally inedible to anyone/anything with a standard set of teeth. I was really hungry so I tore and tugged and gnawed but it was absolutely a no-go. Hmm. But the horchata was good. I'll try it again.
(3)Picky C.
Me and my grandmother literally stood in line for 20 minutes before placing our order and it wasnt even full. I didnt leave because my grandmother really wanted their ava lentil soup. Their agua de orchata was way too sweet. My grandmother enjoyed the food, but I did not eat a thing. To be honest the place is simple and not too much to it. If they had better customer service I might have enjoyed the place.
(2)Ginelle S.
Ok. So...I've never lived in Pilsen. Totally a Midway Messican. Archer Ave. is my rainbow road, anything north of McKinley is north side, I understand the subtle regional/cultural differences between Polish Highlanders and Warsaw folk, etc. HOWEVER, tell me why when I walked into La Casa Del Pueblo, I felt like I was home?! First off, the food is amazing. After I ordered at the counter, the little abuelitas made my kick+ass pozole and brought it to my table with a little shoulder pat and a knowing smile, like they knew I didn't go to church that morning, but the goodness of the pozole would seep in by osmosis or something. Seriously, like some 'water for chocolate' ish. From what I saw, the cooks/waitresses are all abuelitas, that KNOW how to make amazing. LCDP, till we meet again....and this time I'll remember to rezarme antes de venir.
(5)susan c.
Love the rajas con queso, puffy Mexican cheese in a delicious sauce with strips of pepper available early. Order holiday tamales about a month in advance. Like eating at home.
(5)Heather L.
Great burrito, delicious tacos, good guacamole. Casual restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. The price is right, and the food is really, very good. I'll be back.
(4)Richard R.
our company placed rather large order, as we tried to order the person who answered the phone was not knowledgeable of the menu and when asked about a certain item she responded with an attitude and demeaning tone. The service was slow and most of the people taking the orders are not hospitable at all. Other than that the food it self is good.
(2)Angela Z.
This is our GO TO tamale place. Of all the tamales I have ever had this is by far my favorite. Over the years the cost for tamales has risen drastically but I still find it hard to resist buying them. If you go there to eat the other food it is all really fresh and tasty.
(4)Ted C.
My friend comes here for the tamales-the pork ones and on our Mexican food adventure we decided to add tamales to our complement of tacos from the area. Atotonilco=stellar, Los Comales=still good but nowhere near the league of Atotonilco. Anyways, the layout reminds me of a cafeteria and not so much a restaurant. You go up to a counter-which if you ate there would require getting a tray and moving from station to station but since we were taking ours to go we just asked for 6 tamales-the pork aka the red ones. The tamales were really good-so moist and and tasty. The masa and the meat really balanced well and I ate 4 of them quickly before I realized how filling they were. Best tamales I've ever had.
(4)Doreen M.
This is a really unique, beautiful, busy place, and it's all run by women. I can't resist it every time I'm in the neighborhood. Their chicken mole is magical and it's always a challenge to order something other than the mole, but other favorites include the caldo del res and their chile rejenos. They can certainly do better on the chips, since El Milagro across the street also has a strong draw.
(5)Laila C.
stop #2 on the taqueria hop. The layout is a bit like a cafeteria. You go up to the counter, where they have tubes of food and you order whatever you like in half pints or pints. After some hearty goat tacos, I was already pretty filled up, but seeing the chicharrónes and tamales I had to get more food! I ordered a half pint of chicharrónes to bring home to bf since he's obsessed with gordita chicharrónes, a spicy beef dish, and a few tamales. They sell 3 different flavors of tamales and I got 2 chickens and 2 beefs. Both were FANTASTIC! Nothing's better than a delicious tamale filled with flavorful meats and spices! Couldn't help myself and had to sample some spicy beef and ended up sharing the whole half pint with my friend. I felt like a kid in a candy store and I'm really hoping to go back on a more empty stomach and sampling lots more goodies!
(4)Robert R.
I have been lucky to have grown up in Chicago and eating authentic home made Cuban, Puerto Rican and Mexican food. I am Mexican American and have to say that Casa Del Pueblo Rocks! Forget about Lalo's and most other Mexican food places, they are nowhere near the home made taste of Puebla. Highest possible rating, glad my co-worker introduced me to the place, because I thought El Milagro, right down the street on Blue Island Ave. or before that Nuevo Leon were the best, but we have found a new winner hands down! I am addicted.
(5)Victor V.
I thought of traveling overseas this holiday, and I just did. La Casa might as well be in Pueblo district of Mexico, that whole neighborhood might. The buildings are slightly delapidationg yet dignified, the locals don't speak english, and yet they do. The restaurant is just inexpensive enough to appeal to dining on a budget, yet nothing seems cheep. Stuffed peppers are a delight, and the molle is just about the best in town. Friend and I brought in a $35.00 bottle of Scotch, and it didn't seem out of place at all. And on top, they open daily at 6:00 a.m., and ALWAYS have tripe soup!!
(4)Carolina C.
Authentic Mexican food. Dishes that are typically found in a Mexican home. I can eat here everyday, which by the way I find that I sometimes do. Cafeteria setting. (Pick your food, sit down, eat, get up and go pay.)
(5)Liz G.
I was having a craving for tamales and after a quick google/yelp search this was determined to be the best option to drive to from my office. It's a no frills, cafeteria style restaurant with a lot of delicious options. Obviously, I went for the tamales, but ended up walking out with some chiles rellenos as well. I was able to con my coworker with an incredibly vanilla palate into trying one of the chiles rellenos and they were delicious enough that I've got a new convert to drag with me on my next trip. I'll certainly be heading back.
(4)Ebi C.
This place has been one of my family's favorite restaurants for over 30 years! My grandfather used to hang out in the restaurant and chisme with the neighbors over delicious beef stew and rice. Now I share the tradition with my nieces over fresh chicken tamales accompanied by ooey-gooey quesadillas (no other Mexican restaurant in Chicago makes such decadent pockets of deep fried delight). Their champurado soothes the soul on cold Chicago mornings. I love the waitresses: perfect blend of sass, kindness, and speed. Please support this culinary gem!
(5)Nick L.
To me this place captures the essence and beauty of homestyle Mexican cooking. It took me a long time to fully appreciate the simple comfort of well-prepared guisados (stews). My eyes would glaze over the mysterious looking trays on the steam table in search of the standard issue proteins (chorizo, pastor, asada, barbacoa) that neatly slot into the carb vehicle of choice. Now I've seen the light. There's nothing at a standard issue taqueria that stands up to the earthy, complex flavors of these long-simmered stews. When generously ladled over fresh tortillas and a mortar of expertly cooked rice and beans, they become a virtual street food tour of Mexico City that no Rick Bayless venture can even approach, much less co-opt. The asado de puerco (fatty nuggets of pork shoulder bathed in a deep red guajillo sauce redolent of oregano) has an addictive quality that may land it in the top five taco experiences I've ever had. The chicharrones en salsa verde, picadillo, and housemade chiles rellenos are alo very good. The women who work here really know what they're doing and obviously take pride in their food. I suggest going earlier in the day when everything's fresh. Lunch is good, but an early breakfast bumping elbows with Pilsen's proletariat is ideal.
(5)Phil F.
This place is nothing fancy at all, it is just like you would find in Mexico. Just a caferteria nada mas. Its like totally a place to eat, not to be impressed by anything else. But the food is really delicious and they have a lot of options. The chile relleno was amazingly good, so was the barbacoa, and even the tortillas were scrumptious. Knowing some spanish helps here too. Its real Pilsen-y. There was so much on the steam table line, that I have to go back soon.
(5)Shayan R.
Best tamales hands down. I used to live in LA and get my tamales from my friend's mom in East LA. These are as close to the original as it can get. I loved the pork and the chicken ones. Just enough soft masa not to overpower the tender meat. All the food is homemade right down to the re-fried beans (which are so tasty). It's a hole in the wall but the people work there are very kind and accommodating. You don't have to know Spanish to order but the menu is in Spanish. At the very least, you should know your way around a Mexican menu or bring someone along who does.
(5)Three g.
I came here for one reason.... I had an urge for tamales. Its a low key cafeteria-like place, and quite friendly. You just go up, take a look at the posted menu and order tamales - you can order individual ones or a dozen for $10, and the package is full of a dozen hot tamales wrapped in aluminum foil. I brought these home for the family - a dozen cheese and chili and a dozen pork... and it was heavenly. Really fantastic tamales - some of the best I've ever had. Just the right amount of filling, the texture of the masa was perfect, the green chile had the right spice and the pork was tasty. I'll be making this a regular stop on my way home from work now.
(5)Michael C.
I always get the plato with rice beans and barbacoa, wow, since the food sits in a hot tray it simmers in juices all morning just waiting for the next person to order so it can be placed onto a plate with its juices running everywhere ....mmmmmm....the rice and beans are on point and the green salsa is just right with the perfect touch of spice to it....match this with perfect prices and nice smiles everytime you have a great place...
(5)Devin C.
I went here on a whim today on the way to the grocery store next door. I had high hopes upon walking in, since the place seems nice enough, well appointed, and the service was great. However, the food was not so great. I ordered 3 tacos with onions and cilantro and cheese, and a coke. They were so bland and slimy that I gave up after taco two, and didn't even bother to wrap the third up to go because I know I wouldn't get back around to eating it. Then the kicker, my meal was $10. For three very non-gourmet tacos and a bottle of coca-cola. Upon checking the reciept, a small dusting of cheese on each taco was $.75 extra with no warning. Maybe you'll have a better experience than I did, but I won't be going back.
(1)Yolanda M.
Mexican food at its best. Cafeteria style, not fancy, but the most delicious food. Better than mom's (sorry, mom!). The ladies make their own tortillas. If you like spicy food, ask for the lomo de res en chile de arbol.
(5)Leticia L.
Casa del Pueblo takes me back to my childhood. The smells are reminicent of a little me sitting in my Grandma's kitchen watching her make dinner wondering "when can we eat"? At casa they make deliciously authentic traditional Mexican dishes. They have a cafeteria style setup however, you can order enchiladas and other dishes off the menu if you choose. They don't use short cuts or add in new dishes to try and please new clientele. They stick to the basics and that is what makes them so popular. I am a fan of their enchiladas, carne con chile, chiles rellenos and their caldo de res. I can honestly say I have NEVER had a bad experience here. My great aunt introduced us to this place when we lived in Pilsen about 6 years ago and we have been fans ever since.
(5)Eighteenth Street D.
This cafeteria style restaurants features excellent homestyle Mexican cooking. Try the chiles rellenos stuffed with ground beef, carrots, potatoes and raisins a must have comfort food in the Pilsen community. Or come in for one of the daily specials like Monday's albonigas rolled with white rice and served in a soupy tomato broth. You'll keep coming back for the tasty authentic food at this restaurant.
(4)Rachel B.
On the fourth day, God created mole poblano and he saw it was good. And he lay down his hand upon the lady who works behind the counter at La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria and imparted upon her the sacred knowledge and she was like, "Wow, that does sound pretty freaking good!" and she poured all the mole poblano upon the chicken enchiladas of truth and garnished the plate with rice, beans, lettuce, and tomato and handed me a glass bottle coke, and I knew it was good. REALLY. GOOD.
(5)Maria C.
We ordered lunch from this place so I have no idea what it looks like from the inside but the food itself is really good. I had the Bistek en Rajas which is basically steak cut up w/ tomato sauce, peppers and onions, kind of like fajitas. It came w/ rice, beans and of course the tortillas. It was a meal for one person but could of easily served 2. I also had a pork tamale which was really tender and was so delicious I wish I could of ordered two. I really don't like spicy food, and this was just right. I'll be sure to hit this spot in person and taste other things in the menu. Definitely recommended.
(4)Cynthia A.
Breakfast, who knew. For all those who think they know who makes the best Mexican breakfast, they are wrong. This is the best Mexican breakfast in the world, including Mexico. Very local, you may be the only Gringos there, but they will treat you great. Get used to the cafeteria style and get to know the servers, they are our friends now. The Huevos Rancheros are pretty darn sparky, so beware. The eggs are always cooked to perfection, the sauce is always so tasty--not that big, chunky sauce--the real pureed hot ranchero sauce. I defy you to find better beans--there is no such thing. And the rice is nice, pink, and fluffy. Travel from wherever you are and experience this treat before you die.
(5)Andrew L.
I've been coming to this place since I was a kid and it's one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants you can pick in Pilsen. The food is reasonably priced and it's served with haste. I recommend getting a plate of food and the horchata too. A typical meal, 2 plates (beans, rice and main dish) plus 2 horchatas will cost about 19 bucks. Not bad eh? Sometimes people will come in and sing in Spanish too. It's pretty authentic and a great experience.
(5)Anthony S.
The tamales here were very tasty. We ordered six of the pork tamales in red sauce and six of the regular pork tamales. The corn dough was perfect, not too stiff or doughy like at some places and the pork was very tender. The consensus amongst our party was that the regular pork tamales were spicier than the ones in red sauce. If either type of tamale isn't spicy enough for you throw some of the pico de gallo that they serve with it, on top.
(4)