Taco Joint
1969 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614
Taco Joint Menu
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Antojitos
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Salads & Extras
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Guacamoles
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Tacos
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Tortas & Gorditas
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Bar - Cervezas
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Bar - Margaritas Y Mas
Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Healthy Meal suggestions for Taco Joint
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Antojitos
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Salads & Extras
-
Guacamoles
-
Tacos
-
Tortas & Gorditas
-
Bar - Cervezas
-
Bar - Margaritas Y Mas
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
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Address :
1969 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL, 60614 - Phone (312) 951-2457
- Website https://www.tacojoint.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Diana O.
Had the elotes and ceviche tacos which were awesome. Only complain was the iced downed drinks
(3)Jeffie J.
This place rocks tacos. Went at lunch on a weekday so getting a seat at the bar was no problem. Service was swell. Ordered a delicious ceviche taco containing bay scallops, avocado and cucumber in a hard corn shell. Delish! Also took a chance on the "soy chorizo" taco since I wanted something vegetarian for lunch. Mock meat is always IFFY but this taco was not bad at all. The chorizo was covered in a great tasting sauce and came with cheese and slaw. Nice! A side of green rice with corn was super along with refried beans. The mango cheesecake looked pretty but tasted not so pretty so no, this is not a dessert joint. The restaurant is long and narrow and you MUST sit at the bar--the back dining room is crowded and noisy, and the narrow tables in the corridor are ridiculous. Can you even place tables along a corridor in a restaurant (fire code and all that??) Who knows, I just know the tacos are super delicious and I'll be back for more.
(5)Danica J.
If there's one thing I've learned from my time living in Arizona, it's that I've become a taco and burrito snob. On one hand, it sucks because sometimes super cheap tacos from some random place just don't cut it. On the other hand, it forces me to seek out good taco spots I wouldn't have hit up otherwise. I wound up getting the mole and fish tacos, which were both excellent. Honestly, their mole sauce is some of the best I've had since I left Phoenix, which definitely means I'll be coming back in the future, but for me the stand out was the traditional red michelada. Modelo is not my cerveza of choice, but it definitely shines in their take on the classic Mexican cocktail. And then there's that rim and their mix, which are both this perfect balance of savory and a little bit of spice to keep it interesting. Taco Joint is one of those places that's worth venturing out of the neighborhood for. While it doesn't quite remind me of the Mexican food I left behind in Arizona, it's a good twist on it that makes for an excellent meal.
(4)Brian K.
Taking two stars off for a couple reasons. 1. Every time I go, they're packed (with good reason), and I have to sit at one of those awkward, inconveniently located side tables. So uncomfortable, too much traffic. 2. They removed the michelada taco from the menu. I understand the menu is seasonal, which is great, but don't remove your best seller and replace it with an inferior version. Again, I love this place and will definitely continue to dine here.
(3)Kelly W.
It was okay. Nothing to write home about. I had the steak tacos and the mini churros. The churros were the best part.
(2)Emma's G.
What a cute little authentic gourmet taco spot! The tacos are small, but loaded with flavor. They have authentic tacos, and also creative recipes which makes this spot stand out from all of the other tacos restaurants. The types of tacos that they have are very street type from Mexico, a little on the smaller side as you would see in Mexico, but that's ok, because they have other items that you can choose from to taste such as tortas, elotes, guacamole and chips. The guacamole and chips are interesting as they give you a mix of chips that include plantains. That's not very Mexican more Caribbean, but it is the creativity that I appreciate. You can get 3 types of guacamole which is great! You can get traditional, a spicy type or the guac of the day. We where seated quickly, our server was attentive. It was a very good experience!
(5)Morganne B.
Great tacos here... Beats out Big Star any day. Chicken is very dry though. Can't go wrong with barbacoa and fish. The rojo guacamole was great--huge chunks of avocado--and got devoured before I could get a pic. I wish it would have been spicier though. I mean, you're a Mexican restaurant after all. The chips that come with it aren't your average tortilla chips. There are some plantain and veggie chips thrown in there as well and they were probably my favorite part of the whole meal. Margaritas are pretty strong, but overpriced. At least they salt the glass. Is it just me or are places doing that less and less lately? Bring on the hypertension. Service is hit or miss so just get drunk before you come so you aren't waiting too long on your drinks. To be fair, we were a large obnoxious group so thanks to the staff at taco joint for putting up with us.
(4)Bao L.
Taco Joint's unassuming name doesn't do it justice - they really should consider changing their name to 'The Best Damn Tacos in Chicago', or something similar to that. These are the dankest tacos in Chicago by far. My friends and I went here for dinner on a Friday night and we were starving. It was crowded, but we somehow managed to get seated at the last open table of 4 (the food gods obviously had our backs that night). We sat down, quickly perused the menu, and ordered our food and drinks (the Paloma Negra is on point btw). We ordered: -Rojo guacamole: pretty good. It was on the creamier side with nice big chunks of avocado for some added texture. It comes w/ tortilla chips and plantain chips, so be sure to try em both w/ the guac (I love salty things, so I prefer the tortilla chips) -Queso fundido: amazing. We ordered it w/ the chorizo instead of the grilled corn. The queso was heavenly and had the right amount of gooey-ness, and the chorizo was perfectly seasoned. -Carnitas taco: SO GOOD. The carnitas was tender, seasoned beautifully, and had a perfect amount of crispy/charred pieces to give you some texture w/ each bite. The tomatillo salsa topped it off great. Note: eat this taco at the end because the adage "save the best for last" definitely applies here! I did not heed my friend's advice and ate this taco first - which lead to me ordering another one immediately after I demolished this one, and before I even touched my other 3 tacos...whoops -Cracklin' duck tinga taco: there is so much going on in this taco (just look at all the ingredients!), but that's what makes it so good. The duck was tasty and the slaw and pieces of chicharrón added a great crunch -Steak jalisco taco: another huge taco that was delicious. The sirloin was grilled to perfection, and any time you give me chunks of avocado you're doing great in my book. The chili was a nice touch - I think this was the first time I've ever had beans in a taco, and they were a surprisingly welcome ingredient. -Camaron taco: the taco of the day. 5 huge pieces of buttery shrimp goodness. I wish this was offered every day because this would definitely be one of the tacos I would get every time I come in to eat. My friends also got the barbacoa, al pastor, and cochinita tacos. I didn't get a chance to try them but they all said that their tacos were amazing as well. Service was excellent - everyone from the hostess to our waitress to the busboy was polite and kind. I'm definitely coming back here multiple times so that I can try every Taco Del Dia; Tongue 'N Cheek taco, I'm comin' for ya
(5)Maria B.
I usually struggle to endorse tacos bc ya know, that's something my mom could make so why go out for them BUT these are not just any tacos. These are, MUST-try-yourself tacos! Definitely worth $3-4 dollars each. They each had the most appropriate toppings and the tortilla itself was delightful. We had the guacamole del dia (of the day, ;)) which had pineapple, papaya and special kick. Worth every penny. Last but not least, we ordered Chile Mango Margaritas, which did not disappoint. The jalapeño added an extra punch of flavor. This Mexican approves this joint!
(5)Tracy Y.
I don't know why I never ate at Taco Joint until this past winter. I am so glad I met my friend here on a really snowy night. It's become a regular place to go when we want tacos or margaritas. My most recent visit was last weekend when I had a friend visiting. The restaurant is fairly small so get there early or prepare to wait. The margaritas are good! Lots of flavors to choose from. I think we've tried almost all the tacos. They have a daily special taco too. Last weekend we tried their guac of the day which was mango based. I love all things mango! Service is great too!
(4)Yvonne B.
Taco Joint is definitely a victim of it's hip location combined with it's own success. It's freakin' noisy and crowded! I walked in and was immediately confronted with a wall of bodies and noise after struggling to find parking. It's dark and looks like a bar and ONLY a bar. Nothing about my first impression indicated that it could possibly be a restaurant and serve tacos. We used the app to track the readiness of our table while we enjoyed an adult beverage at the bar next door. It took a solid half hour for a "table" along the hallway wall with the kitchen door swinging and breezing our backsides. Waiting guests leaned along the edge of our table and didn't move when we were seated. It was absolutely shameful. The alacrity of our server, our sweetly refreshing house margaritas and scrumptious tacos redeemed Taco Joint. The Taco Joint Margarita was served in a tall, skinny glass with an option of either being on the rocks or frozen. We chose rocks. It had less lime and more agave than other places; however, it went down easily. These were our tacos: Conchinita - the server's favorite. The shredded pork has some flavorful heat that is immediately cooled and complimented by the slaw on top. Al Pastor - probably my all-time favorite chicken taco but not my favorite taco at Taco Joint. Steak Jalisco - Delicious and well balanced. A little hard to eat because it had so many components that could fall off. This was very different and FAR superior to the version at their Ontario location. Crackin' Duck Tinga - MY FAVORITE. It was crispy, flavorful, and rich. I loved it. I loved it as duck oils seeped out of it. Camaron (Taco del Dia) - M had this one and she kept it all for herself. I can only report that she would not share. These tacos were really delicious. All of them had interesting flavor combinations, good textures, and quality ingredients. They were well-balanced and distinctly different from one another. Even though Taco Joint was slammed our server didn't rush us to pay or leave. He allowed us to sit while we conversed and M nursed her second margarita. We genuinely appreciated him and he admitted that serving is one of his callings. We agreed!
(4)Diana S.
I returned to Taco joint only to find out that my favorite appetizer have been modified. They are the flautas . They would bring them to you in a bowel with a delicious salsa sauce on the bottom and they were made out of chicken. The new appetizer is made out of beef in a platter. It ia Not as tasty as before and extremely dry. What happened to the sauce/salsa that it used to come with it? Other than that, eating gourmet tacos for 3 to 4 dollars each it's still pretty good. It would be so awesome if they brought back the previous flautas appetizer.
(4)Kabir B.
I chose to give Taco Joint 5 stars because of the consistency with the food. Though they have changed the menu a few times their staple dishes still remain. I love how the food always seems to taste better every time I have it. I find this to be rare with a lot of places and surprisingly the Taco Joint in River North lacks in what the Lincoln Park location does well. Friendly staff, sometimes a little too busy but great for a quick lunch.
(5)Candice T.
Fantastic food, great service, margaritas are great! Jeff was our server and he gave us great recommendations, knew the menu in and out. Queso fundido was delicious and the Baja chicken taco with grilled pineapple was to die for.
(5)Aimee C.
I can't stress enough how much I love tacos. Essentially, they're my favorite food group! Having been raised in SoCal, where my palette indulged in bountiful and authentic tacos and taco trucks alike, I am pleased to report that Taco Joint houses the BEST TACOS IN CHICAGO! My friends and I recently came here on Cinco de Mayo to indulge in some good ole' tacs and margs. For drinks, my friend and I settled on a pitcher of the Fruit Margarita: pineapple-blood orange, while another friend ordered the Pina Colada. The pineapple-blood orange Fruit Margarita was recommended by our server and was quite refreshing. As the name suggests, it was on the sweeter side and the fruit flavors were so heavy, you could barely detect any hint of Tequila (which, for me, could make for a very interesting evening lol). I tried a few sips of my friend's Pina Colada, and boy was that tasty! I normally don't gravitate to coconut flavors in my mixed drinks, so I don't have many others to compare it to, but this Pina Colada was delicious! I just wish they offered it in pitcher form. We started with the Tradicional Chips & Guac. Refreshing with a very subtle kick of spice. It's served with corn tortilla, malanga (taro root), and plantain chips. I appreciate the variety of chips they offered, since each had a very distinct flavor profile that complemented the guacamole nicely. For tacos, I ordered the Carnitas, Ceviche, and Aguacate (Tuesday's special). Started with the Carnitas taco, which was simply melt in your mouth deliciousness, with a very rich pork flavor. By far, my favorite taco at this place! Next came the Ceviche taco, which was a light and refreshing follow-up after the Carnitas. This particular taco is served on a hard shell, which tends to fall apart with that first bite. So be sure to scoop up those bits of dropped shrimp and avocado with your fork (Or is that just me and my fat kid tendencies?). Rounded out the trifecta with the Aguacate, which you can't go wrong with when you have beer battered avocado, black bean salsa, crema, and pico de gallo in every bite. The customer service never disappoints, from always making sure you are eating to your heart's content to consistently refilling your water glasses. The downside is that this place doesn't take reservations and unless you go at odd hours, expect to wait, since seating is fairly limited. The silver lining is that they have a bar near the entrance to bide your time and your thirst. I am definitely coming back here for my next taco fix!
(5)Manpreet K S.
Thursday night taco dinner- great little place, it's a narrow hall with plenty of seating area. Our server was excellent and made some great suggestions! Highly recommend- ceviche tacos (it's on hard taco shell with bay scallops); cochinitas and chicken tinga tacos!!
(4)Neha S.
Most delicious tacos I have ever had! All their tacos are absolutely amazing! My favorite was the the barbacoa.. very flavorful. Their street corn appetizer was amazing as well!
(5)Lisa N.
This place is really good! I've been three times and I love all the tacos I've tried so far. The only reason I'm giving them a 4 is because I tried the queso fresco and it made me feel really sick afterwards.
(4)Michael G.
I would give this place 5 stars if the tacos were larger. Great tasting food. Fresh. Not authentic Mexican food but rather Mexican inspired food with a new twist. I enjoyed it and will be back.
(4)Jose A.
These are the best tacos in chicago!!! Service was great. Relaxed and casual atmosphere. A bit loud but fun. Queso fundido was excellent. A must experience.
(5)Craig R.
What a tasty little Taco Joint! Pun intended. I went here on a Tuesday for the 2 dollar tacos and was not disappointed. I highly recommend the Barbacoa taco, delicious! I managed to stuff 5 of them down on top of 3 margaritas and some half price tequila. If you're looking to get intoxicated cheap, Tuesday night is also half price tequila night. They have a wide array of choices and you can get 1 oz pours for as little as 2 dollars each. Super fun place, great service, the food came quickly and it was all great! Will definitely be back for another helping.
(4)Christina R.
The most amazing tacos I've ever had! Great atmosphere, great prices! Could not have been happier with the experience
(5)Patricia N.
Best to worst... 1) Blood Orange Margarita - literally to die for 2) Pozole Taco 3) Queso Fundido w/ Chorizo - hand-pressed tortillas are so good! 4) Steak Michelada Taco 5) Rojo Guacamole - variety of chips were awesome 6) Del Dia Guacamole 7) Ceviche Taco - DO NOT GET. It was so bland.
(5)Justine M.
Pretty dark and small inside. The service was very attentive and friendly. Waters refilled constantly and the staff checking up on us at a good rate. I got a few tacos: duck, ceviche (came in 2 in hard shells), baja and the special for friday The Camaron. The best out of the 4 was baja with lots of flavor. Duck came in 2nd. The camaraon had very little filling. The guac was mediocre but not horrible. Over all, good atmosphere and service, but not amazingly noteworthy food.
(3)R C.
I would really love to give these guys a better review but so far they are 0 for 2 in getting orders right. Twice now I have ordered to-go food from this location and both times my order was wrong. I feel like I should just order the cheapest things on the menu knowing I will get a random selection of food and hoping for the best. Beyond that service the food was good (I would say above average) but not amazing or anything to write home about. In the end I would give these guys 4 stars for food and 0 stars for service. My suggestion is to be sure that you check exactly what is in your to-go bag before you ever leave the restaurant because you never know what you will get.
(2)Christopher M.
My expectations were low coming in since Lincoln Park has a dearth of great places to eat. Everywhere has to be really high end in order to afford Lincoln Park real estate prices. Taco Joint flies in the face of this as they had fantastic food at reasonable prices. The guac of the day (with chickpeas) was great, and we loved all our tacos, in particular the Cochinita, the Michelada, and the Carnitas. My friend got a torta and he said it was fantastic. Great less expensive (though not cheap) dining option in Lincoln Park. 340/365
(5)Laura C.
I'm torn about how to properly rate my dining experience at Taco Joint. We called ahead on a Saturday evening for a group of 6 and were told to come by in an hour. We arrived an hour later and were told they'd text us when a table opened up, but to expect a 45 minute wait. No problem, we grabbed drinks next door. Another hour passes without a text and we head over to see what the deal is. We're told we'd need to wait another hour & that it's very difficult to seat a 6 person party. We were seated about 40 minutes later. Unacceptable in my opinion. I'd rather be turned away for the evening if a 6 person party is too large to accommodate than wait almost 3 hours. They did bring over a few starters to make up for the wait. Service was good once seated. Their food was outstanding. Guac was pretty standard. I am STILL salivating over the street corn. Grilled corn on the cob w/ mayo, queso cotija, chile piquin. So, so, so delicious! My husband and I shared a variety of tacos that were all great. Dare I say better than Big Star? Stand outs were the ceviche (served in a crunchy taro root? shell) & al pastor. Others in our party seemed less impressed with their tacos but I disagreed.
(3)Jamie B.
Stopped in today for a quick lunch. Great little street tacos. The guava agua fresca is also fantastic. We had 6 tacos, al pastor (chicken), chile rellano, veggie, barbacoa, carnitas, lamb. All were pretty good the barbacoa was really tasty. The guacamole was also really fresh and I like how it was served with plantains and tortilla chips mixed. I would definitely come back, the margs look fantastic! Especially the grapefruit one.
(4)Charlotte H.
Super fun little taco joint (lol) in Lincoln Park. Pretty close to the Red line and the 8 bus stops rights in front of it. I went on a Wednesday night and it was busy, but got seated in about 10 minutes. The service was fast and our waiter was very friendly. The margaritas are really good and pretty good size. I got the classic on the rocks and would highly suggest. The taco are really good. I got the two vegetarian ones (corn and soy chorizo) while my boyfriend got pork, chicken and a fish one. We shared the rojo guacamole which was a good size for two to three people as a starter. All in all this is a super good Mexican joint for a casual but delicious dinner or would be a great place to stop for drinks and appetizers.
(4)Tish S.
Tacos were really good, I got 4 buffalo, 1 rotisserie and 1 shrimp and grits. All were tasty.... Total was 35bucks.
(4)Paige W.
These tacos were great. The space here is quite small. Best suited for dates or small groups. I think getting a table for any more than 4 people would be tough. I went here with just one friend, and we were seated pretty quickly right at the bar. Great service from the bartender and server. The menu is also pretty awesome. They have taco specials everyday. They also have lots of vegetarian options. The empanadas and guacamole were my two favorites. If drinks are your thing, they have lots of beer and tequila options. The mix drinks sounded like they'd be good too. I had a diet coke- which they serve in cans-wish they had fountain pop. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area. The desserts sounded really delicious too, but we just didn't have room to eat anymore.
(4)Kristy H.
We were in search of a mexican restaurant in Lincoln Park and found a Groupon for Taco Joint, purchased it and stopped by. Best decision ever!!!! We showed up without a reservation on a Tuesday afternoon and were sat down immediately. We ordered margaritas, tacos and tequila. The tacos were out of this world! The Cochinta (pulled pork and habenero), Barbacoa (braised beef) and Carnitas (pork shoulder) were absolutely delicious. Barbacoa was my favorite and on Tuesdays they're only two dollars so we ordered more than one. The margaritas were also good, not too sweet or out of a mix behind the bar. The service was also great. Our server was fast, attentive and our food came out quickly. He also gave us good recommendations on the tequila which was extremely helpful. They also have specials everyday (i.e., Tuesday is Taco and Tequila day - $2 barbacoa & al pastor tacos and half off all tequila) so be sure to check those out! Overall, if you're looking for delicious gourmet tacos in the Lincoln Park area you have to give Taco Joint a try.
(5)Amy H.
Showed up without a reservation on a Tuesday (not sure if they take them anyway) and were told 45 mins. No big deal, we grabbed a drink next door. They took our # and texted to let us know our table was ready exactly 45 mins later. We were seated at a roomy table and had a friendly/pleasant server. The tacos here are delicious. They're packed with flavor, maybe almost a little too much flavor, but still they're excellent. I had 3: the cochinitas, duck, and ceviche. The cochinitas and duck were scrumptious. The ceviche was a little odd. For some reason, I hadn't put two and two together to predict that it would be cold. Eh, still edible but not what I would've normally ordered. Their guacamoles are amazing and for the price ($10), one should ALWAYS order the trio. The basket of guacamole transporters (tortilla chips, plantain chips, and maybe something else) ran out faster than the guac, but they happily refilled it for us. My friend thought the sangria was too sweet, but I liked it. Everything we ordered came out fast and their prices are reasonable. Fun place to hang with friends.
(4)Moe T.
We came here with no expectations at all and were really pleased with what we got. First of all, if you like guacamole, they have a good selection that you can try from and they are all different. I loved the mix of plantain chips, taro chips, and tortilla chips they give you for dipping. Their tacos are cheap and they are not skimpy at all. Our favorite was the barbacoa, which had a nice soft texture and lightly spiced and marinated flavor. We also had the estilo baja. It had a buttermilk flavor and the fish was soft. The rajas was creamy and a good vegetarian option. The steak jalisco was also pretty good but I wouldn't choose it over the barbacoa. I would also recommend the vegetable escabeche on the side. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, more oiled than pickled, but the peppers were a nice complement to our meal. Not to mention fantastic service. Will come back
(5)N. F.
Excellent option for take out. Everything was very fresh and kept well on the walk back, even the guac.
(5)Conny H.
The tacos here were pretty good! I tried the fish taco, duck taco, and ceviche taco. The fish was tasty but nothing spectacular. The ceviche taco came in a taro shell which was very unique! The shell is hard so it was a bit difficult to eat since it fell apart pretty easily. The flavors were great though! My favorite was the duck taco. The meat was tender and juicy! The cracklings inside added great texture as well. We also tried their guac of the day which had watermelon in it. Sounded funky but somehow it worked? Overall, not a bad place to try out some unique flavors!
(4)Christine H.
Tasty, but the tacos were tiny. Came here on Monday night of Memorial Day. The place was pretty packed but our party of 3 was seated immediately. My friends and I all got Margaritas (I liked the passion-mango), two tacos each, and we shared a portion of the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was chunky but smooth, but the texture of the chips was kind of weird. It wasn't really soggy, but it definitely wasn't crunchy. The tacos were tiny. I got the conchinita and the ceviche taco. Both were excellent, Except the ceviche taco came in a hard shell, and the filling kept falling out.
(4)Niki T.
This place has amazing amazing food! I've tried Velvet Taco in Gold Coast and was super unimpressed--especially from the hype. I got the sweet corn n' truffle- best taco I've had thus far.It was amazing!! The guac/chips are really good too! The chips include banana and malanga chips- which is a good different. The turtle flan yummy too! Highly recommend! I wish this place had outdoor seating though, just to enjoy the weather when it's nice!
(5)M H.
Visiting Chicago for the weekend and we wanted some good tacos. We found it!!! This place got voted readers choice for best tacos in Chicago magazine this year, and it deserves it! We sat at the bar and order their two staple guacamoles (I don't remember the names). The were great with the variety of corn, plantain, and malanga chips. I ordered the Carnitas, steak Michelada, and Pozole tacos. Each one was delicious. Most of all our service was amazing. The bartender wearing the Bears ballcap (never got his name) was very helpful with recommendations and explaining all the Spanish names I didn't understand. He also took the time to chat with us about Chicago and Florida. Great service!
(5)Shannon H.
Great gourmet tacos. Went there around 9pm and the restaurant had plenty of seating. Enjoyed the service.
(4)Katie S.
Fun place for a date! The restaurant is super small and seating is limited. We called 30 minutes ahead and still had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. But it was well worth the wait! We started our meal with chips and salsa--super spicy! The salsa was served with a variety of chips and plantains. I tried the house margarita and my boyfriend had the $5 Friday special of beer and a shot of tequila. The house margarita was good, but I will try one of the fancier margs next time I go. From the waitress's suggestion, I tried the Baja and Barbacoa tacos. The Baja was a standout! I will definitely return!
(4)Olivia M.
I went here based off a recommendation from a coworker and wasn't disappointed. I tried the sirloin Monday special taco (my favorite), chicken al pastor, tilapia (also delicious), duck, and carnitas, plus the guacamole. Everything was consistently tasty across the board but I do wish they included some salsa/chips and was disappointed with some of the toppings on the tacos. The chicken al pastor taco was disappointing in the sense that it had a very, very small piece of pineapple on it. My server was also extremely busy flying around so I never had the chance to ask for a side of limes - but she was very friendly and happily answered all questions. Also, the seating is kind of strange here. When you walk in there's a pretty cramped bar as well as some bar seating that faces a wall and all the table tops are in the back. The tables are close together - not really great for a first date or an intimate conversation. Just a heads up!
(4)Hadie B.
Tacos are super yummy, but service seems a bit snooty sometimes.
(4)David E.
My go-to Chicago Taco Joint. Small location but worth the wait even on the busiest of nights. Hands down best Tacos in Chicago.
(4)Anwar J.
Fish taco flavored, yum. Awesome chicken taquitos, another level. Steak Monterey taco, super tender. Now, if you can ignore the terrible service and under staffing... You'll dig it.
(4)William B.
Definitely in the "hipster taco" category rather than the "Mexican taco" category, and unlike California's Tacolicious, I can't say they pull it off. Nothing was bad, and the service was nice, but . . . Chipotle is better. Henceforth let's use the "Chipotle test" as a baseline for taco places in Chicago. It's a reasonably high bar, since Chopotle is tasty, but there's a Chipotle near my office and my house, so if it can't beat that bar, I don't need it in my life.
(2)Maggie M.
This review is for a delivery order. Disgusting. Ordered 6 tacos at 7:50pm and did not receive until 9:45pm. Almost two hours... for tacos. If you can call them that. All tortillas were complete mush, and every single one of the tacos looked like it had been in a boxing match; they were smashed beyond recognition, and you couldn't tell one from the other. The whole meal looked like cat food, and kind of tasted like it too. I fully recognize that any delivery item isn't going to live up to it's in-restaurant counterpart, however if you can't figure out how to make your food work for delivery at some level above completely horrific, maybe you shouldn't offer it at all. There are plenty of other 'taco joints' in the neighborhood that deliver actual, edible tacos. Good tacos, even. Don't waste your money or [hours of] your time here.
(1)Morgan Richelle M.
Probably the best Mexican Food in Chicago. My mom and I dropped in as it was a restaurant she had been dying to show me (I was visiting from San Francisco). We were in on a weekday afternoon, so we didn't have any wait and were seated right away. The interior has an authentic and festive vibe. It's super clean, staff is friendly, and the service is speedy! Our waiter was a sweetheart. We ordered a pretty light mid-afternoon "snack" which was the Queso Fundido (Queso Chihuahua, queso fresco, & roasted poblano peppers). I could see why she was so in love with this place! The Queso Fundido (comes with 4 tortillas) is heavenly! That cheese is delicious- I could have eaten all four of the tortillas, but instead we shared them and ordered a side of chips and salsa. It was wonderful!
(5)Bailey T.
Good food, but the staff was very unfriendly from the start to the end. They even over charged us, and when we notified them of it he returned by slamming the receipt on the table.
(1)Adrianne B.
Excellent food, but terrible service. We were told 30-45 minute wait, but it was over an hour before they called our table. Don't go here with a party of three or they will make you sit at a sad high-boy where everyone in your party faces the wall. Even most parties of two have to sit at the sad tables. You're better off sitting at the bar and avoiding the wait. The margaritas are very good, but so sugary, after two I felt horrible the next day. Their version of a pitcher is called a "bottle" which ranges from $36-38. They can't do bottles of their frozen margaritas. Even some of their margaritas on the rocks are not available in bottles, even though they are listed as available on the menu, which they need to update. Our waiter was a real jerk. No concern for our dining experience. Not worth the journey across town. Antique Taco is far superior.
(2)Brandon W.
Dayumn! Great Americanized tacos. Great cocktails. Chilled out hip atmosphere. The only problem I've had on more than one occasion was the food wasn't very hot. I mean, it wasn't cold but I'm sure the tacos would be even better if they were straight off the grill. Oh well, I can overlook it. Highly recommended.
(4)Michael B.
As it is near my house, I eat here way too often, but it never lets me down. Almost all the tacos I've had here are great, especially the cochinita, which has a nice spice to it. I've also had the guac, elotes and queso fundido, which are great as well. The only complaint is I feel they could give you a bigger portion of guac. Normally it's pretty packed inside, but if you do takeout, it only takes 10-15 min. So go grab a drink at Marquee next door while you wait!
(4)Jaquie K.
Dear lord these tacos were amazing! so good. The elote was on point as well. I would suggest getting the gauc trio too. And one of the couples we were with had so kinda chicken torta that was really great. It's a small space and fills up super quick. But we will be back for sure. My only complaint would be the sangria was awful and really expensive for sangria.
(4)Michael S.
Drove past this place 3 times and finally had to check it out! SO GLAD I DID! Everything was fresh - and delicious! And great prices. #Winning!
(4)Danika M.
Got the tacos at this spot... on a Tuesday... I came here for dinner & drinks with friends. By far some of the best margaritas I've ever had!! I ordered the Grapefruit Margarita.. the chile-agave made it somewhat spicy & perfectly delicious! I tasted my friend's Mango Chile Marg, which wasn't spicy as hoped, and mine was voted tastier by our group. We needed a table for 6, but they don't do reservations, so we put our name on a list in advance via phone. We still had to wait about 30-40 mins upon arriving, which wasn't too bad and time passed quickly, since we ordered 1/2 price tequila (shots) and margs at the bar in the meantime. I didn't realize how tiny the space was beyond the bar, but once we had our table it didn't really matter. I had the baja (tilapia) and steak tacos. It's not very authentic Mexican food, but it was tasty and the menu was full of fun options. They even had "street corn" on the menu, which I know as "elotes." I had a bite and it was good.. made me miss the real thing. Overall, great dining experience and laid-back atmosphere!
(4)Gary M.
Have been to this taco joint a couple of times now with the most recent one on a Groupon. The place doesn't really take reservations so be prepared for a wait if you come at prime time. They do however, take you name and number and you can check to see where you are in-line using the 'no-wait' app. A great way to see how long you will have to wait which give you the flexibility to move to another location for a drink and come back without missing your spot (they also text when your table is ready). Onto the food, their tacos are delish and I have enjoyed every one of them that I have tried. Some of their daily special tacos are great (esp Saturday's). Drinks were also good (if you like margaritas). Average taco price is $3 - $3.50 so nothing that will break the bank here. Service was friendly and attentive and the atmosphere was fun and casual. Will definitely be coming back sometime soon!
(5)Alexandra M.
Taco joint was delicious! My friend Katie and I both got a margarita as well as the Guacamole platter (3 different kinds with a bowl of chips). The margaritas were large and very flavorful, I got the Grapefruit option. The rim was lined with a delicious, spicy mixture. The guacamole tri was also a 10 out of 10 and HUGE portions for only $10. I would highly recommend this place for a date, fun night with friends, or any outing. We sat at the bar, so I can't comment on the seating arrangement in the back. The bartenders were very attentive.
(5)Alexander S.
Wow... You think Big Star is good??? I'm a HUGE fan of anything one off group but I'm so down for Taco Joint. Unbelievably good. Very fairly priced. Manny, a very knowledgeable staff member, served us our assortment of tacos and provided speedy, friendly service. A must try for any Mexican food fans. My new favorite taco spot. I'll definitely be back for sure.
(5)Geoff R.
Recipe for an amazing lunch: Battered shrimp tacos, mango frozen margarita and banana chips with insanely good guacamole. First time here but we will def be coming back. Reasonable prices. Definitely check it out!!
(5)Melissa I.
Surprisngly bad service today. I usually come on Tuesday afternoons and sit at the bar. I guess I made a mistake by coming on a Wednesday. The Tuesday bartender is amazing. Offers suggestions, very friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. The bartender today literally only took my order. He never checked if the food was okay (which I can't completely hold against him. As someone also in the industry, when people are eating, it generally means that everything is okay. It doesn't, however, give you a free pass to completely ignore me). I also had to ask for my bill. Just generally a disappointing experience. All that being said, I love the food here and usually get amazing service. I will be choosing my days more carefully going forward.
(2)Sandra C.
Swanky and urban loved the atmosphere here. Food was excellent, cocktails yummy especially the day of the dead it was delicious. Desert awesome donuts but a bit pricey for 1 donut. We went on a Sunday no wait at all but pretty busy.
(5)Caroline L.
This place is one of our go-to spots in our neighborhood. The prices are excellent, service is great, food is amazing, and margaritas are exactly what you want from a margarita!! We like that you can order a bunch of different tacos to try similar to a tapas environment. We recently went on a Saturday night and were told it would be 45 minutes-1 hour wait. We weren't excited about this obviously BUT we knew it was a Saturday night and weren't surprised. We went to a bar close by to have a drink until our table was ready. We went back to check on table and it still wasn't ready. I'm pretty sure it still hadn't been 45 minutes though so we were NOT upset at all. The manager at the time was so attentive to us. She brought me a margarita on the house while we waited and made sure we were taken care of! It was very sweet and we didn't expect it!! We like this place even more now because of their excellent service!
(5)Allison P.
Visited on 4/11, had three tacos and one of them was the Al Pastor. My friend didn't have the Al Pastor (but everything else we had was the same), and I'm now going on 24+ hours of extreme stomach pain, indigestion, and nausea. I've never experienced this sort of reaction to a food before....I won't be back.
(1)Nicole H.
Didn't live up to the other reviews. Flavors were good not great. Overall a bit too salty. We sampled 5 tacos the 3 guacamoles, tortilla soup and the deserts. Nothing stood out as fantastic. All was a bit underwhelming. The main thing it had going for it was proximity to our place. Not excited to go back.
(3)Ebenezer A.
Found this place from a groupon, totally impressed. Service was welcoming and proactive! That's always a sign of a good restaurant, then the food came in 7 mins tops, and surprisingly enough the food was deliciously flavored and hit the spot right away! Ambience and music could possibly be bit of a compromise depending on taste and instant service. Will be back for more!
(4)leizl t.
Came in.. very comfy feel atmosphere. Ordered a chili relleno and mole pork roast. Tacos that hit the spot! So soft and tender. Definitely coming back.
(5)Linda E.
Well, I'll be honest. This review is HEAVILY biased. I met my fiance at this Taco Joint ten months ago today. Last weekend he proposed to me after enjoying a reminiscent meal of pork belly tacos, plantain chips, guac, and refreshing margaritas. This restaurant will always be my favorite taco stop in Chicago. But even if I didn't have such strong emotional prejudices, I would still love Taco Joint. The food is above reproach and the bartenders are always up for some fun and witty banter. Taco Joint, you rock. :)
(5)Madison Z.
My boyfriend and I stopped in to get food last night and he loved the tacos and the flautas were amazing. We sat at the bar and the service was nice which was nice for quicker service. The waiter was funny, and while I stuck to beer the margaritas looked great. Definitely would go back or recommend to a friend!
(5)Candace A.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I've been to taco joint anytime I can get someone to join me! My sister introduced me, and I fell in love! They have great tacos, and they have a nice variety for all types of appetites! Every time I go I get a MARGARITA.... All of the ones I've ever tried have been pretty awesome! The QUESO FUNDIDO is to die for. I rarely eat red meat or pork, but this combination of cheese and chorizo sausage was truly a masterpiece in my mouth! It's great for sharing, but if you order it, you probably won't want to share much.... It's just that good! The GUACAMOLE ROJO is my favorite! It combines the tasty guac with spicy rojo salsa, and the combination is amazing! It really is hard to stop eating if it's right in front of you. I've tried almost all of their TACOS, and I really liked all of those I tasted (except for the cod tacos)... Everything else was top-notch! This is one of those places I keep introducing to more and more people who also end up falling in love! There was only one time I didn't enjoy the food. I was late at night, and the food was cold. That hasn't changed my love for this place!
(4)Ana S.
Where to begin... First off, everything I have ever eaten here is simply amazing. They have simple more traditional tacos, and a couple more "out there" ones as well. Their margaritas are great, lots of unique flavors. They aren't too sweet or too strong, just right for a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends. Can get a bit pricey if you are super hungry, but I have found ordering chips and guac (the rojo guac is outstanding) and 2-3 tacos is perfect. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city and I plan on going back many, many more times.
(5)Stephanie S.
I come here at least once a week, sometimes twice. So that means I'm pounding anywhere between 3 and 7 Grapefruit Margaritas a week. The GF Marg, made w/ Herradura tequilla, is probably one of the tastiest, most well-balanced drinks in this city - especially when they listen to your request for extra chili salt on the rim. Here are my favorites Tacos: Machaca, Al Pastor (their version is chicken, FYI), Shrimp (only available on Friday) Torta: Panela Apps/Sides: Elotes, Guac (comes with a mix of corn and tasty plantain chips) Tips: - Be prepared to wait a bit - The dining room is small, but you can probably score a seat in the bar area quicker. - If you do sit in the dining room, know that you won't be able to converse with your dining companion. It's extremely loud. - take advantage of their daily specials! Sunday is great - free chips, salsa and guac if you post a photo of your food to instagram. (love being rewarded for stuff that I do already!)
(5)Chels I.
Love this place! Spicy mango margarita is really good cocktail, as well as their grapefruit one. For appetizers I would recommend their guacamole is really good and they have additions that you can add to it. Also their queso fundido is excellent! Their al pastor is probably my favorite taco followed by the the Baja!
(5)Josh G.
The tacos here are yummy. The margaritas here are yummy. The street corn here is yummy. It will all make your mouth water. Great service every time I go. The food, drinks and service will not disappoint you! Even my friends from Mexico LOVE it. #authentic
(4)Andrea C.
Taco Joint, I like your style. Came in w/the Hubs for a Sunday Funday because we had the Monday off and indulged. I had 3 tacos- 2 Estilo Baja and 1 El Pastor. Both were very tasty (especially loved the sauce on the Estilo Baja), and they made me LONG for summer. I could totes imagine myself eating these on a hot day with a marg and a suntan (omgihatewintersomuchpleasebeoversoon). Hubs had 2 Barbacoa and 2 Cochinita and loved them! The Cochinita had some heat, which I thought was awesome- his mouth was a little bit en fuego (see what I did there?). We also split the guac, which was great! I love avocado, so my will power disappears when I see guac on a menu. We decided to split a pitcher of the Zocalo margarita, which honestly, wasn't the best marg I've ever had, but wasn't the worst, either. It just tasted kinda like the pre-made mix you can buy at the Jewel. I'd probably try a different variation of the margarita next time I was in. However, overall, our food was very good and everyone who works there is super nice! They have specials every night, so make certain to check what the special of the evening is when you sit down! Def will return.
(4)Anthony L.
Guac was great, tacos were possibly the best I've had in the city, and the margaritas were pretty good. I enjoyed the vibe and decor as well and our server was phenomenal.
(5)Mitch D.
This place was just okay for me. Maybe we caught them on an off night, but the service was a bit over the top, and the food was a little hit-and-miss. Some of it was awesome and crave-worthy, while other menu items could be scratched and you wouldn't miss them. I would give them another shot, but I wasn't blown away.
(2)Nikki M.
The wait was too long for my friend and I since we were starving (we came without a reservation on a Saturday night). But after we had dinner we came back to try a margarita. We both just got the house margarita and at 8 dollars the size and taste were just right! I hope I can come back sometime to try the tacos and guac because it smelled delicious in there!
(4)April T.
Went to Steppenwolf for a matinee play decided to have dinner near the theater Did a yelp search and came upon the taco joint. Went there after the play and I was not disappointed. So so good. Originally ordered a barbacoa, fish and pork taco. Flavor was on point. Ordered an additional fish and barbacoa. The tacos are on the small side, but the margaritas are large and decent. Will come back again. Service was fast and friendly. I was alone and was seated promptly however this place is small and large parties will probably have a wait.
(5)Fernando B.
Really good tacos! made fresh to order. Super friendly staff always ready with a joke and a recommendation. Be careful with the spice level because they can get HOT. Not a big fan of the donuts but the flan was really good. Very cheap too. Great place!
(4)Rachel V.
This was a great little find. Love the atmosphere and overall design of the place. Frozen margarita was great, and tacos as well. Was a fan of the plantain chips with salsa and guacamole! Overall great place to meet up with friends.
(4)Taralyn S.
I've only lived in Chicago for 7 months and I can't even count the number of times I have eaten at Taco Joint. This is my go to place for dinner or lunch out and my favorite place to grab some take out or delivery. Margaritas are excellent. There are so many different kinds, although I will admit I almost always get the guava marg. I only wish I could get the marg to go when I'm not eating in! I made my way through each of the taco options and landed on my standard order: 2 enchilada tacos and 1 fish taco. I would seriously crave this combo. Unfortunately they changed up their menu 2 weeks ago and my beloved enchilada taco is gone. RIP enchilada taco. I'll just have to try them all out again to find my new order. I've also gotten various sides and apps: refried beans, rice, flautas. Everything is delicious. Service is friendly in house. The restaurant is on the small side, so beware of peak hours cause you can wait. The bar is bright and there is lots of seating. There is a delivery charge, but the goods come quick and they are hot. And you can order online for pick up and delivery.
(5)Donna C.
We have eaten here several times and ordered different tacos every time and I am pleased to say that the quality is nothing less than exceptional. Everything is unique without being just plain weird. The prices are affordable. My choice is one taco and the pollo al carbon torta. This sandwich is amazing. Moist chicken, tasty cheese, poblano pepper make this sandwich awesome and it is decent quantity, I always have 1/2 left for lunch the next day. The Margaritas on the rocks are perfect. Appetizers are tasty - queso fundido and guacamole are top notch. The hosts and wait staff are always attentive, efficient and friendly - a true trifecta. My only knock on the place would be it is loud, very loud so don't go expecting intimate conversation, it just can't happen. But if you want to have a great urban Mexican experience, this is your place.
(5)Kathryn C.
Super poor service. We were a group of six and they told us 20 minutes, after an hour we left hungry. Another group of 8 came in 20 minutes after us and were seated almost immediately. Not cool.
(1)Tracy H.
This place is amazing. So unassuming, but I seriously had the best tacos of my life here. Went with my BF and wow. We tried every taco on the menu! (They're small, only like $3 each) and we were blown away. Wonderful flavors, tons of meat in small tacos, and just overall wonderful flavors. My favorites were the ribeye, mushroom, and crispy pork tacos, although all were worth trying. The guacamole was very tasty and creamy, and the drinks were delish. But this place can add up, so head's up. With tip, we dropped $70 on lunch, which was kinda crazy. But this place can be done on the cheap if you just have a few tacos and some chips and salsa. Service was also very good. Will be back.
(4)Erica L.
Love this place. Always need to order to the Elote! I especially love the Estilo Baja taco. Tried the fruit cart salad and did not like it, but looks like they changed it up a bit on the menu (when I got it I just remember there being a lot of carrots and way too much seasoning). It's a fail safe quick dinner. I prefer sitting at the bar!!!!
(4)Jen K.
I'm hungry and angry but not hangry. Hangry comes from hunger alone and my anger is due to the sheer awful experience of this god forsaken place. Our large group sat down quickly. Our waiter took his time coming to us and getting our drinks and then announces "bad news guys, I can't take your order for tacos". We stupidly laughed thinking he was kidding. He wasn't. The kitchen was "sooo backed-up" that they just couldn't take anymore orders. He offered nothing for this annoyance. We asked if we could at least get some guac while we wait. He said yes and for 20 minutes, we sat guac-less. At that point, our drinks were empty as were our bellies and we decided to just call it quits. As we were standing up our waiter finally made his grand return to ensure we got our check, in full, because we know that you couldn't even offer a couple bucks off for this inconvenience. NEVER GOING BACK.
(1)Kristina C.
I just love this place.... no matter when I've been here, we always get great service and the food is always good. The shrimp ceviche taco is my favorite. I was surprised how deliciious the Pina Colada is - its not the syrupy sweet ones you get poolside, this is all business.
(5)Melissa B.
Very disappointed in the food & delivery service. We ordered a selection of tacos beef, pork & chicken and some guac with chips. When I placed the order I was told an hour for delivery which I said was fine ( it was 7.30pm on a Friday night) but it took 2 hrs and 15min!!! Over 2 hours for some tacos coming less than a mile away??!! I don't think so. I called twice, first time I was dismissed with a "its a Friday night we're busy they'll be there soon" second time a "who are you? Are you Isabelle? I told you it's on it's way" I explained that I wasn't Isabelle and we'd been waiting a long time and then I was cut off! Finally the delivery guy arrived with our cold joyless tacos. I won't be mugged by these guys again there's plenty of other places to try instead of 'Taco Joint'
(1)Hannah J.
I LOVE Taco Joint! The Al Pastor taco is the best-- tangy, sweet, and spicy. I also get the queso fundido every time. It is great to share as an appetizer. The real reason to go is that they have a deal every day of the week, but the best ones are Sundays (free guacamole when you feature their food on Instagram), and Monday ($5 house margaritas). The margaritas are strong and delicious. Highly recommended.
(5)Kelsey K.
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I should give my favorite Mexican restaurant the 5-star review it deserves. Always greeted by friendly and service-oriented staff. Knowledgeable about the menu and drink items, and encourage tequila shots at all hours of the day. EVERY menu item is amazing, especially the Taco Joint Salad (with chicken!), Queso Fundido, Al Pastor taco, Enchilada taco, Carnitas Taco, and Barbacoa Taco. My favorite drink special is on Friday - Tecate with a free shot of Tequila - its the perfect way to start the weekend. Can't say enough great things about this place - very fortunate to live nearby. ¡salud!
(5)Anna Liza U.
Street corn was eh. Get the Cracklin' Duck Tinga taco and the Churro Donut w/ the Chocolate Hibiscus sauce.
(4)Sof B.
Nice gourmet taco with lots of flavors. Atmosphere is casual and staff is super friendly. Definitely a nice hang out spot with friends.
(5)Trae B.
This happens to be my current favoritist favorite place to go. OMG, so first, me and my dude went last summer,'13, for drinks, NOT, we ordered all 3 tortas and a variety of tacos we wanted to sample everything. Then we went back that Monday, HOLY SMOKES, they had 5 dolla dolla made me holla margarita's and a mofo CRABCAKE TACO, dude I wanted to slap someone.---BTW, that is not what Taco Joint calls them, but they should, I am extremely dramatic.--- I digressed, I am so excited to write this though, ok, so, we came back Wednesday with friends, because we were like this is UNREAL, they killed it too!!! We go so much I am gonna turn into a taco. My dude is like bae, you hungry, you want taco...I'm already out the door...joint? I think we will go tonight. YAWP. I made myself hungry. WE SMASH @ The Taco Joint Yo.
(5)Candyce P.
I love this place. The tacos are creative and delicious. My favorite is the Baja fish taco. Love their Micheladas, and Horchata cocktail! I always sit at the bar, because the seating Is in the rear of the restaurant, and there are no windows back there..try the guacamole, you will like it.
(5)Carmen R.
Gave it two stars just because I used to love it when it opened. I ordered two Baja tacos- one was delicious and one was overly salty. I noticed they have donuts on the menu so I wanted to try the tres leche one...really dry...boring. Not sure if they changed their chef lately but there is no consistency anymore...no lime wedges when you order tacos to go. I also wish they would bring back the shrimp taco. Disappointed...we used to go there all the time...not anymore
(2)Caroline G.
Seriously, this place is amazing. The first time I went, I was impressed by the cozy, intimate atmosphere. Perfect for a date. Drinks are great, I had the white sangria and it was delicious (also only $5, but that might be a weekday special). The barbacoa taco was my favorite, however I also had the al pastor and baja tacos which were unreal. And not only was the food great, but overall the staff is very attentive and have great suggestions if you're not sure what to get. Will definitely be going back!
(5)Lisa M.
The very best margaritas anywhere!!! Generously sized. Guac is also some of the best around. Cannot figure it out, but they add something unusual to give it a slightly different, but wonderful taste. Food is very very good as well. Baja tacos super!
(5)Marina G.
I wanted to love this place but maybe I went on an off night. I should preface this with the face that I'm a vegetarian, which is probably why this place got 3 stars vs 4. We ordered the esquites guacamole and it was fairly good. I liked that it came with a variety of chips, not just tortilla. For my main, I wanted vegetariano sope. No such luck; they were completely out. This was 8 pm on a Friday night - how are you out of one of only three vegetarian dishes? I went with the panela torta so my friend wouldn't awkwardly be eating by herself. You should probably pass this dish if you come here for dinner. On a positive note, their blood orange margaritas were really good.
(3)Natalie B.
I JUST HAD AN AWESOME TACO. I'm not sure why this place has two $$ because my taco was only $3.50 and it was a very generous taco. Not skimpy and small like some other places. The rice for $2 was a good portion and had such great flavor. The $2 beans was also a good portion, the flavor was pretty good. My taco (which did fill me up) and the side of rice and beans came to less than $8.50, and it was delicious. I will definitely recommend.
(5)Gina S.
It's really more of a tapas kind of joint. All the tacos are ordered individually, beans and rice are an extra side. Plus chips and salsa is considered an appetizer. Say wat?? Not to mention, soda is by the can, ugh...I hate that. Because soda is by the can, I went for alcohol. They had a pretty decent Prickly Pear Margarita. We ordered a chips and salsa. The chips are blend of IDK what kind of fried plantain or banana chip and regular tortilla chips paired with 3 dips. The dip cups are fairly small, and for the salsa love like me it's just not enough. There was a hot salsa, a mild salsa and guacamole. The tacos were okay, we went with a Tinga (shredded chicken, red cabbage & guaca-salsa), a Al Pastor (grilled chicken, serranao-pineapple pico and tomatillo salsa) and a Rajas (poblano peppers, onions, tomatillo salsa and black bean spread). They were small tacos, that made sharing interesting. Who gets two bite and who gets three? We also order a Papas con Chorizo Hurache (flatbread topped with Chorizo, red potato and molcajete salsa). Probably the best part of the meal. Even still I was a little let down by what I was thinking was Mexican was more like modern tapas with a south of the boarder flare.
(2)k E.
ThIs place is so awesome! I love the gauc, the plantain chips, the cochinta tacos and even veggie tacos. Nom Nom Nom!!! You can walk your dog and pick up food from the "take out" window. Brilliant. Just what Lincoln park needs. :) Love this place.
(5)Jacob J.
Zocalo is a good time, like my review states, the late night scene can be a time to mingle and get a tasty bite to eat. Zocalo has a little sister location in the Lincoln Park area, called Taco Joint. You can score a discount pass for Zocalo here once you purchase a drink. It's a tight little spot where tacos are out of this world and cost a mere $2-4 dollars each! With an array of meats offered. The front bar is big enough for about thirty people to stand and have drinks. The back area has only a handful of tables, so calling ahead is a great idea. I was there for Cinco De Mayo with a couple friends and thoroughly enjoyed the time. Good affordable menu, great company and a few heavy handed margaritas made for an excellent adventure. Looking forward to the next time. Parking is hard to come by. So maybe you could cab it or park elsewhere and take a bus over.
(4)Austin Y.
We tried a wide selection of tacos, which were good across the board. The barbacoa was the best - perfectly marinated with a nice kick of spice. Cochinita and fajita tacos were almost as good, though they didn't have the same depth of flavor that the barbacoa did. The filling of ceviche taco was a perfectly citrusy tilapia with just the right toppings, but I agree with another reviewer that a soft taco would have done the delicate fish more justice. Al pastor and rajas tacos were also quite good, although not as flavorful as the four varieties above. Service was extremely warm and friendly, and all the ingredients were fresh and high quality. An excellent place for some drinks and tacos at a very reasonable price!
(4)Dan H.
Smaller, chill taco spot. This is not an "authentic mexican taqueria," but who cares? The tacos are good & not greasy, the tacos are creative, and it is affordable. You may end up waiting for a while, especially if you go with a larger group (6+). This is a great place to go with just a couple friends for a beer and a few tacos. In fact, I would rather sit at the bar anyway. Fish taco is awesome, so is the carnitas.
(4)Emily C.
Despite all the hype, the Groupon, and the positive Time Out review, Taco Joint just doesn't have what it takes to be a great restaurant. It's certainly NOT the Big Star of Lincoln Park. That claim is absurd because Big Star actually creates unique flavor combinations with each of their four distinct flavors. Taco Joint has 8+ flavors, but all of them basically taste the same. They are not dynamic; the flavor's don't "pop." They're just bland meats wrapped in a corn tortilla. I did, however, enjoy the tequila flight. They serve five shots of tequila and other cactus-based alcohols. I could tell that each one had a distinct flavor profile. This place has a relaxed ambiance and tasteful interior design, but the food just doesn't cut it. I've been here twice, both times using Groupons, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)Ryan R.
I love Taco Joint. The food is fantastic, the margaritas are great, and the servers are awesome. I've never once had a bad time, either dinning in, or with carry-out. The "bike through" window is a fantastic option for those summer nights when I want to take a dinner, and find a quiet picnic area near the lake. My fiancee and I love sitting at the bar, and having a margarita or two while chatting with friendly patrons and bartenders. This is our go-to place for date-night, or date-lunch.
(5)Bob G.
This is one of my favourite eateries in Chicago - I lived 5 mins walk from here. It's just great, tasty food and drinks. Can't go wrong for a casual place to eat. I just work my way through the tacos, guacamole and margaritas. Enjoy!
(4)Rick M.
This place is probably my favorite taco place. Small menu but the tacos are amazing. The quality of the ingredients are exceptional for that kind of establishment. The tacos are not just beef or pork; there's a lot of thought put into it. I've been there twice and have been equally surprised. The service is not the friendliest but no attitude either; if the place was fancier they would've lost a star, but for a hole in the wall like this, I'll keep the full five stars.
(5)Juliana K.
Consistently good. Not sure if that's the number of drinks I consume or the friendly wait staff. Very nicely priced and drinks are interesting and tasty. Good specials
(4)TJ D.
This is a pretty good new place!! What I really like about it is that you are able to buy individual taco's so you can try a variety instead of an order where they are all the same. Definitely a good place!
(4)Ramya P.
Woot woot!! I love mexican cuisine especially tacos. Decided to try this place with a couple of friends recently and was very impressed. This place doesn't take reservations and when we showed up on a Saturday evening, we thought we'd have to wait 30-40 mins. But luckily they had a table available and we were seated immediately. Of the cocktails we got, I loved the Chile Mango margarita the best followed by the minty mojito. You cannot go wrong with pretty much anything here. We got the traditional guac and the roja guac with smoky salsa. Its served with taro root (malanga), corn and plantain chips. YUM!! For the entree, we got the shrimp taco (5 effing stars!!), the veggie taco (5 stars), the panela torta (5 stars) and vegetariano sopes (5 stars!!). We had no room for dessert but that just gives me another reason to visit the lovely joint again :)
(5)Kordian Z.
(take out) Received food smashed and all over the container. The food itself was awful. Fish was under cooked and raw. Pork shoulder was extremely dry (i'm still trying to pick it out of my teeth.) Cerviche was soggy and the shrimp tasted as if it wasn't stored properly. I was extremely disappointed even though the reviews all stated 4-5 stars. I was looking forward to some really good tacos.
(1)Kayu T.
Duck Taco - Good, very tasty Steak Taco - Alright, a little tiny bit chewy Lamb Taco - BF said its alright.. Guacamole (the one w corn and other things) - Good, I liked the plantain chips Flan - Alright.. I am sure they didn't cover the flan tight enough or they let it sit out way too long before putting it in the fridge because there was a layer of rubbery skin. Price - it came out to be over $30 for 'street food' that were decent, but most items were just warm. I rather go to Star Taco in Wicker or just go to my regular real taco joint around the neighborhood. I wouldn't go back just for this place...
(3)Ms G.
If you want REAL Mexican food don't come here!!!
(1)John O.
Good spot. Tasty Mexico City style tacos and fresh guacamole. Friendly bartenders and reasonable prices. It's all good. Next time I'll have to try the margarita.
(4)Celby R.
This is a great go-to when I'm craving some tasty but not necessarily taqueria tacos. I love their barbacoa and pork, and the flautitas are nice and crunchy! One of the most unique things about this place has to be their chips, which have root and banana chips mixed in. My "meat-and-potatoes" bf was not a fan, but I loved the taste and texture of the root chip especially. The salsa has the right amount of zing without being too intense for anyone, and whatever margarita I had I forgot but it was tasty and got me buzzed just right. The service (delivery or dine-in) is pretty spot on. They forgot one of my tacos in a delivery once, but I was so full after eating I just forgot about it. :) Dine-in has both bar and tables, we started at the former and ended at the latter. Some are long tables with benches meaning you could be very close to your neighboring table. Not a problem, but something to consider if you're looking for some intimate one-on-one time.
(4)Lindsay J.
I love it here! I have been to Taco Joint almost a dozen times now and it doesn't disappoint! However, if you are expecting a trendier atmosphere, maybe this isn't the place for you. It can be as quick as you want or you can order several drinks and have a bit longer of a dining experience. The drinks -- delish! I forget what exactly it is called, but there is a chile mango drink that is amazing! They ask if you want it ordered in a bowl or a glass and you have to try it in the bowl -- brings the entire thing together nicely. Food -- never disappointed! I have tried almost every taco on the menu and have enjoyed them all. I didn't LOVE the ceviche -- but could be personal preference. My FAVORITE thing on the menu is absolutely the corn appetizer. It is corn on the cobb (cut into 3 pieces) with a type of cheese mixture on top = to die for. I love it! I typically spend around $12-14 on 3 tacos and a shared app, around $20 with a drink. Worth it!
(5)Andy H.
Pretty awesome place. Waitress was awesome, and made no fuss about transferring our tab from the bar to our table when we were seated. The food was very good. It was a nice break from the same formula for typical mexican foods. New ingredients and flavors are always welcome in my book. The aura was relaxed and the restaurant was very clean despite it being a touch small. I would recommend. A great place for a date.
(4)Joel L.
Unbelievably authentic Mexican taqueria in--of all places--Lincoln Park. Prices are not outrageous and can be down right cheap if you stick with the specials (i. e. $5 margarita Mondays). My husband is Mexican and we've eaten in some of the best restaurants from Acapulco to Oaxaca. This "joint" compares very favorably to them. Don't let the location scare you. My only suggestion--other than just go already--is maybe avoid peak hours on the weekends. We went at 8 PM on a Friday night and it was packed.
(5)Greg M.
This place is great. Tacos are amazing and everything is very authentic (according to my wife who's mexican). Prices for food are generally reasonable, but getting margaritas will leave you with a big bill. But really that's the same anywhere you go. They don't take reservations and there isn't much table space, so expect a long wait to be seated. We've started ordering take-out and that's seems like the way to go. But overall a great place with really good food.
(4)L M.
Taco Joint - loves it! The food is delicious and affordable. I've had pretty much every taco on their menu and I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them, but my faves are Barbacoa, Cochinita, Tinga, and Rajas. I also usually get the Rojo guacamole and a Zocalo margerita (or 3). The food is simple and straightforward and always tastes fresh. I love sitting at the bar, near the window if it's a sunny, warm day. You feel like you are sitting in a Mexican cantina. And I've always had great service here as well. All around a great place for some delicious Mexican fare!
(5)Suchada X.
thank you for crab cake taco mondays! mmmmm.
(4)Jonathan P.
Only been there for lunch, but they have great tacos, great drinks and great guac. I'd like a better variety of salsa, but given how good everything else was, they clearly get a pass on that.
(4)Tyler B.
I wish the inside was a little bit more open and had light coming in. It felt almost like a dungeon at times. Other than that, the food was pretty damn and the service was great! I would eat here again... actually take it to go....
(4)Laura W.
I had a great time at Taco Joint, I was there at an odd time so it wasn't packed and I was at a table in the back with plenty of room. I had three tacos: Arabe- The Lebanese influenced taco served on a pita, it was delicious and had some kick to it. Estilo Baja- I always try to get a fish taco when at a taco place and this certainly didn't disappoint. It was bigger than I was expecting and I loved the slaw. Cecina- You can get this served as a taco and again the salsa had some heat to it. The zocalo margarita was really refreshing even on a cold winter's day. But then I was dying to try the Citrus Cazuela because it is served in a terra cotta bowl. The novelty of this makes ordering the drink worth it. I could really taste the white wine which at first I wasn't sure I loved but it grew on me. The service was really great and I felt our table received a lot of attention which is always nice. I can't wait to go back for some of the special weekday tacos.
(4)Aja C.
RUDE STAFF Rude staff & decent food = 1 star. Save yourself the drama & go some place that will respect paying customers. RUDE. RUDE. RUDE!!!!!!!!
(1)Samantha K.
Although I miss the restaurant Minnie's that used to reside in this location, Taco Joint is a satisfying replacement. In a neighborhood that caters to the upper class, it's refreshing to have a restaurant that gives you the feel of an expensive restaurant at an affordable price. The biggest downfall this place has is that it's small. It doesn't matter what night of the week you go, you're going to have to wait and the wait time always varies, but it's worth it. If you lack patience, luckily for you not only do they have window service, but they also deliver. I reccomend trying to dine in, but do not even attempt to bring a large group. If you don't start off the night with a tequila shot or a margarita, you're doing the experience wrong. The tequila list is extensive and it won't break your wallet. If you want to attempt to go there on the weekends, you can get a can of Tecate and a shot of tequila for $5. The best part of Taco Joint is that they always have new food specials, but they keep the classics on the menu. Make sure to ask your server what they are because sometimes they change daily. Coca Cola pork tacos and guacamole made with fruit may not sound appealing, but they're awesome. The guacamole is an essential starter and it's served with corn, sweet plantain and malanga chips. Do you know what a malanga chip is? No, because who does. They look weird, but they taste great. A malanga is a root vegetable, you'll be fine. Now on to the tacos, order anything except for the barbacoa. There's just something not right about them that I can't put my finger on, but besides that it's all delicious. Lastly, let's go to the service. It's average. The servers are nice enough, but not necessarily the most attentive; however I can't really blame them. The place is always busy, so I'm sure it's hard for them to be at the top of their game all the time. Overall Taco Joint is a must especially if you're a fan of Big Star and unlike Big Star they except credit cards, so that's an automatic win in my book.
(4)Jill N.
Taco Joint is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. Yes, it's small and you might have to wait a while for a table - but it's WELL worth it. The service is quick and efficient and the food is INCREDIBLE. They always have a special guacamole of the day which is usually really unique and delicious. I always get the rojo guacamole which has a bit of spice on top of a traditional guacamole. The go-to tacos are Ceviche and Rajas (great options of you don't eat meat) Plus, both the margaritas and sangria are strong...which is always a plus. A lot of people compare Taco Joint with Big Star and I have to say...Taco Joint is better
(5)Kay S.
Food was decent but a little over priced and the delivery charge is totally ridiculous! Especially when the delivery driver can't read simple instructions on the order or on the buzzer to NOT ring the doorbell! Now I get to enjoy my tacos to the sound of a crying toddler. thanks!
(3)Vaidehi T.
Wow and wow!! Went here for dinner on a sat'day night to catch up with friends. We started with the classic guacamole and the rojo guacamole to go with our cocktails. The rojo was the bomb. Absolutely loved it. Also, special mention for the chili mango margarita... Yum! For the main, I ordered the shrimp taco. It was orgasmic. Amazing flavors, the shrimp was cooked perfectly. I totally did a happy dance in my head as soon as I tasted that taco. I also tasted my hubby's vegetarian taco - which was delicious as well. The veggie torta was pretty good too. I could come back here everyday for the shrimp tacos! They are ridiculously good.
(5)Rokey T.
I really was a fan when it first opened up, but the over-crowded small spot is losing it's appeal a little bit. The veggie taco is awesome. The shrimp is nice too. The duck is good! Nice service. Good drinks!
(4)Susan T.
In Chi town from LA and wasn't sure where to meet my cousins for lunch while shopping in Lincoln Park, so we found ourselves here. Sure glad we did! Awesome food, amazing margaritas and great service! Our waiter was super helpful and made great recommendations.
(4)Stephanie W.
I've been to this location and the one on Ontario. Both are fantastic. The sangria is delicious, margaritas are strong, and the guacamole is perfect. I've never met a taco here I didn't like. TRY: barbacoa, al pastor, camaron.
(4)Nadege L.
Great tacos and drinks but don't get the salmon because sometimes it can be a bit dry. The service was good and the food has been consistent since I've been coming here!
(4)Olga Q.
Ok so this place is kind of hit or miss depending in the night I guess. My original review was generous with 5 stars we went back right away and had an awful experience so I amended my review and here we are again. The margaritas as seriously very very good and the food is good NOT outstanding but good. As for the service sometimes it's great service but a lot of times we have gotten crap service and there's a female bartender with a terrible attitude and eye rolling problem. I'd recommend it for their pretty neat tacos and amazing drinks.
(3)Natasha F.
$3 tacos? Count me in! It's about time that Lincoln Park has a good (and affordable) taco place. I've never been disappointed -- the barbacoa, cochinita, estilo baja, and rajas. All so good! This place is usually packed, but they let you put your name down and they'll give you a call when your table is ready. We've even gone next door to Marquee for a drink while we wait. If you are in a rush, try ordering to go. I'm usually skeptical about ordering take out because it's usually never as good, but these tacos are still amazing! And it never takes more than 5-10 minutes. I've never been to their location in River North, but I'll avoid the chaos of downtown and stick to my Lincoln Park gem.
(5)Rick T.
Cool little cantina atmosphere, but, the food just didn't meet my expectations. Taco Joint is run by the team that operates Zocalo in River North. The taco receipes are identical. That, in my book, is not good thing. The concept is gourmet tacos, with special salsas and spices. Sadly, the meats are over-spiced and over-salted. The salsas and toppings are typically overpowering, too. I will say this: the taco of the day during my visit Thanksgiving week was a delicious--yes, DELICIOUS--turkey taco, served with a cranberry salsa. Truly enjoyable. Also, the service was outstanding. Our server was attentive, fun, and her suggestion to try the turkey taco resulted in us ordering the best item of our meal.
(2)Kit G.
Some of the best taco's in Chicago!!! Loved everything about Taco Joint, the food, the atmosphere, the service. I can't wait for their River North location to open up! Taco Joint's guacamoles is delicious. First off, they have big chunks of avocado in them. The texture was perfect. It was a mix of these bigger avocado chunks and some avocado that had been mashed with the other ingredients. I really like having tomatoes in guacamole, and Taco Joint does include them in theirs. The red onion was chopped finely so that you didn't get any bites that were 70% onion. The Rojo guacamole definitely had kick. When I took my first bite I questioned if it had too much bite, but my palet adjusted and I really enjoyed the spiciness. The guacamoles come with plantain chips and corn tortilla chips, the sweetness of the plaintains complimented the guacs very nicely. Next up we ordered Elotes, the Tinga Sope, and a couple tacos. The Elotes have changed my life. I want to eat more right now. Elotes are a common Mexican street food, and the description of what it is does it no justice. An elote is grilled corn on the cob with a light layer of mayonnaise that is then covered with cotija cheese and chile piquin. I don't like mayonnaise, and you can't really taste it in this dish. Let me just describe what this tastes like: perfectly cooked corn that is crisp on the outside, mushy on the inside, with a creamy cheesy topping that is slightly spicy. The corn is a little sweet and all the flavors come together in the best way possible. Order the Elotes. One order had three half ears of corn, just enough for the two of us. I ordered the Tinga Sope. Taco Joint described a sope as being like a maize boat filled with ingredients. It is like an extra thick corn tortilla with a lip around the edge that keeps the filling in. The waitress said that some people pick it up and eat it, but I knew that I would get that all over myself so I used a fork and knife. All of the sopes at Taco Joint have black beans, crema, and fresco cheese, and you get to choose from a varitety of meat toppings. The Tinga came with marinated chicken and what they call guaca-salsa. The flavors were well-balanced and I thought the presentation was great. Sometimes taco fillings are not distributed evenly, the sope solved this problem. Each ingredient was stacked in a thin layer. Each bite included the crisp corn shell, black beans, crema, salsa, avocado, chicken, and cheese. More restaurants should serve sopas! You have the choice to get many of the meat and filling combinations are sopes or tacos. Tacos are perfect if you want to try two or three different things, and sopes are almost an meal on their own. I still had a little room left so we ordered Queso Fundido. It is essentially fun cheese. (Sidenote: the actual translation is "melted cheese"). We had the choice of ordering our Queso Fundido with either potatoes or chorizo on the inside, we went with potatoes. It was basically a whole bunch of melted cheese with roasted poblano peppers and potatoes in the middle. It was packed with a smokey and chipotle flavor, and came with tortillas so you could turn it into little tacos. Taco Joint has secured its spot on my radar. I love that they are not afraid to use spice. The dishes were robustly spicy, not overwhelmingly spicy. The difference between the two is important, and Taco Joint has mastered robustly spicy. The Taco Joint atmosphere is 50% bar and 50% restaurant. I love the warm rustic interior. It isn't loud or flashy. It is an inviting space. Definitely the perfect place for a casual Wednesday date night. I want to point out they have a walk up window if you need tacos in a hurry.
(5)James C.
I went to Taco Joint for lunch last Saturday and really wanted to love it but...... We had a group of 6 and had a long wait - I get it, popular place = waiting - can't really fault a restaurant for THAT, can we? The thing is, when we were finally offered a table, we were steered to a "communal" table. I guess that would have been OK except for the fact that there was another "non-communal" table available and, after all our waiting, there wasn't anyone else left still waiting to be seated..... SO.... I steered my group to the "non-communal" table so that we wouldn't have to share the moment with a pack of lingering hipsters. Our waitress was very close to outstanding, very attentive and professional and we all REALLY loved the three different types of guacamole, served with plantain chips, corn chips and malanga chips. I don't know what a malanga is but it pairs well with guacamole! The selection of tacos all sounded interesting and the ones that I tried were all pretty OK, but not memorable. The pork-belly taco was the most interesting concept but, you know how sometimes pork can taste a little too "porky?" The Tinga Taco was good but was just a pretty mainstream chicken taco. I got the same vibe from the Fajita Taco - good, just not great. Five stars for the waitress. One star for the hostess who didn't manage table openings very well, and three stars for the food which - to be fair - I would have probably given a four but it was a victim of my high expectations going in...... OK - I have to admit it - I miss Mini's that occupied this space a few years ago!
(3)Matt M.
Oh my gosh. My mouth just had an orgasm! I discovered this place about 3 weeks ago and had a quick lunch there. I thought the tacos were incredible and decided to go back again today to see if that really was the case. It was. I love tacos and these are as good as they get. I used to think it was Big Star but no more. Not only are the tacos here delicious, but they have a much bigger selection. Today I had the Birria (which is the Thursday special) and a Barbacoa. I plan to head back and eventually try every taco on their menu. Oh yeah, and the wait staff is friendly, fast, and professional. The atmosphere is top notch, too. The only complaint I would normally lodge against a business like this is the price - $3/taco usually strikes me as stiff (I'm ridiculously cheap). However, they put so much meat on these that two tacos and a small side pretty much fill you up. So I can't even complain about the price here. Awesome. You, too, should go and experience the oral orgasm of the Taco Joint tacos.
(5)Anthony H.
Excellent all around. Great service complimented by excellent food at reasonable prices. Had the barbacoa, carnitas, Cameron, fajita and crab cake tacos and I couldn't pick a favorite, but the highlight might have been the queso fundido, which was out of this world
(5)Joshua C.
Tacos great, service great, price great! The drinks are very good too. I will come back.
(4)Kori E.
I really liked this place! They really transformed the old Mini's into a little taqueria! We got there around 7:30 and were quoted a 30 minute wait. Not too shabby. We ordered their special Margarita of the night - the Citrus one and it was delish! It was a bit sweet, but not overly so. We were finally seated and I had the two person taco dinner Groupon. I ordered the Tinga, Ceviche and Carnita's and all three were delicious! My fave was for sure the Tinga. I didnt necessarily like the crispy shell of the ceviche, so I just picked the ingredients out with my fork. My brother had the special of the night - it was served on a flat bread as well as the carnitas and the fajita. The ingredients were all so fresh, the tortilla's we so soft and definitely seemed homemade. The margaritas served with our dinner were a bit on the tart side, but still drinkable. Im not a big margarita fan to begin with so maybe that was the problem. OH, and for an app we ordered the Queso that came with a side of their smoky salsa. I couldn't stop eating the salsa it was so delicious! We noticed that people definitely lingered over their meals/drinks and that's why snagging a seat can be a lengthy process. Our server was very peppy and I liked him! I would definitely return to Taco Joint. It was great. I can imagine on a Friday or Saturday night the wait times are pretty long though...
(4)Joel B.
BOOM! Been here 2x and both times have exceeded my expectations! Prepare to wait if you are going during normal busy restaurant hours, however, you can call ahead and get on the list. I wish I had more to say, but I normally let my 5-Stars speak for themselves.
(5)Kyle S.
Loved the taco joint. I sat at the bar, and really got a Mexican vibe from the place. There margarita sampler was fantastic as were the tacos. I will be returning.
(5)Shahid A.
I ordered food for pickup today. I stood outside at their takeout window for 15 mins while 3-4 of their servers hung out in the bar chatting away. I ended coming inside the restaurant with my baby stroller (the entrance is absolutely not stroller or disabled friendly). I inquired why no one was paying attention - the host responded "the window is for fresh air". Why have a menu outside the window? Why is there a ring bell? Very rude staff - no apologies, just wanna-be-hipsters-servers with lots of attitude. Those looking for a quick bite in the Halsted/Armitage area - try "Interurban" on Armitage - just a block away from Taco Joint. Great food less attitude.
(1)Jacqueline M.
Came here on a Sunday, food was still good...however it wasn't as big a portion as before...drinks were okay, less ice please....
(3)Alex G.
A hip, friendly taco place with great drinks and authentic Mexican street food - awesome! Today's special taco was Mexican coke braised pork belly - damn good! Chicken taco with a pineapple Serrano pepper salsa was awesome as well. Guacamole was above average, and I liked the 3 different chips you get with it. Try your beer Michelada: with tomato juice, spices, and lime juice. Amazing! Margaritas were tasty and very well made. This a definite stop for taco lovers...
(5)Andrea M.
Just went here last night with some girlfriends and we all really enjoyed our dinner. Every table gets their own, different tequila bottle filled with water for refilling- really unique/cool touch that I appreciate because I hate continuously asking the waiter for a water refill. I had a standard margarita. It was good (not bad, not great). We had the sampler app of their guacamoles (traditional, rojo, and a special for the night). Rojo was our favorite because it had some extra kick, the traditional was lacking a bit of flavor in my opinion, and the special was a nice twist. I ordered 3 tacos: ceviche, carnitas, and cochinita. Like other reviewers said, the tacos are on the smaller side, but they don't skip on the meat/fish. The cochinita was my favorite. If you're not a fan of spicy, then you probably wouldn't like it. Service was good; attentive, but not in your face. We all left satisfied and not overly-stuffed which was nice. Will definitely be going back soon.
(3)Jason P.
Great Taco's. Can't beat the Friday night Tecate and a Shot special for $5.
(5)Bobuzzi C.
Tiny place, but a lot of fun. Would recommend trying the different kinds of tacos and getting the gucamole. The Mango Chili Margarita is really different, but delicious. Gets crowded fast!
(4)Zhenya S.
Oh My GOD those tacos are good. Def should be illegal how good they are
(5)Beth M.
I never knew tacos could be this good! I'm usually not a taco person - prefer burritos or nachos. But my friend and I used a Groupon here good for six tacos and two margaritas and holy cow, I am definitely coming back here with my fiance. Even without the Groupon, this place is cheap. Each taco is about $3 (saw one for $2) and two could easily fill me - I couldn't finish all three I had. Also enjoyed the margarita and service was great. Also enjoyed eating at the bar. New favorite taco place.
(5)Matt K.
The Arabe tacos are amazing (pork loin on Mexican pita). The elotes are even amazing-er. Have always eaten in, but ordered delivery recently and everything tasted like it was just made. This place is just solid all around!
(4)Tony D.
$5 Tequila shot and a can of Tecate on a Saturday ALL DAY?! YES!!! A special like this will alone keep me coming back, but the Elotes and Guacamole are worth noting here. I liked 1/2 the tacos I sampled. Purely preference and style of prep. Good service, but go later as many people were bringing their kiddies in, and in an environment where spirits are flying I just can't get down with tears near my beers.
(4)Meredith D.
SO DELICIOUS. I went here on a groupon and it was one of the best groupon's that i've ever gotten. I wouldn't have known about this place otherwise. It's such a cute little restaurant in lincoln park (right on halsted and armitage). Four people greeted us as soon as we walked in and we were seated right away. We presented our groupon and they were extremely excited that we were there. There were a few other couples there, but we got there before the rush which was great. I had the fajita tacos which were awesome! And we got a margarita with the deal too. Tacos are only $2-3 and margarita's are 8. I would definitely go back here. Service A+ and Food A+. Highly recommend it!
(5)Ryan S.
Food was good, but the margaritas were way too sour. We were in a group of 12 and people were adding water to them to make them less sour. They also didn't bring the food to the people who ordered it, just brought it to one end of the table (after taking individual orders for the food). That's frustrating to figure out as a large group at a long table. The food was really good though, and the $5 beer/shot special is great. I wouldn't go back if I was picking a place, but if a friend wanted to go I wouldn't complain.
(3)Miranda W.
I had to upgrade this place to 5 stars from 3 stars. I came here with a Groupon ($17 for 6 tacos and two margaritas), sat at the bar and had great food and excellent service. I hope to see the Groupon again.
(5)Sadat A.
Saturday's special the Pork Belly taco's are mind blowing! All of the other taco's on the menu are still super tasty, but the Pork Belly taco's are the top of the line!! Only served one day a week there!
(4)Alyssa C.
Loved the al pastor tacos! The Elotes (corn on the cob) is amazing. I am also a big fan of their margaritas which you can get by the pitcher and on Fridays and Saturday's tecates come with a free shot of taqulia! Dangerous! They don't take reservations and seating is limited so be prepared to hang out by the bar if you go during peak hours.
(5)Justin O.
The tacos and chips were unique and delicious. My favorite was the barbacoa, but all of them were tasty. The chips were very different. Taco joint has a unique twist on tacos, which many have probably thought to become more or less standard fare.
(4)Tessa C.
Excellent food, bang for your buck, fresh ingredients & friendly staff. I don't understand complaints about portion size when tacos are around $2 each- isn't that about how much Taco Bell charges? Recently had a minor problem with a takeout order and it was taken care of above and beyond. My only small criticism is as a newly opened restaurant there is room for improvement on plating and portion consistency (never felt cheated on portion size but sometimes bummed when they were on the smaller side-so a happy medium would be cool). Would appreciate move vegetarian options too but that there are several guacamoles to choose from so that keeps me from getting bored. I prefer them to Mercadero (cheesy scene, worst ever guacamole, didn't know it was possible to ruin that) and De Cero-to expensive for the quality and portion size. Frontera is one of my favorites but here I know I can get in and satisfy my craving for Mexican for just a few dollars.
(4)Jennifer S.
Love the daily specials. Great quick dinner spot, but fun if you want to hang out longer as well.
(5)magic g.
de cero has been my fav when i'm in the mood for fusion tacos. well, this place is as good ... if not better on few taco creations cool decor, nice service check out their daily deals & they are sometimes on groupon now ps: it's easy to miss ... somehow the colorful logo fades in the sun
(4)Michael K.
Great place for two.
(5)Celeste C.
Oh Taco Joint....why do you disappoint me so? You see, I'm a bit of a fish taco FREAK. I love 'em. I crave 'em. I inhale 'em. So when I came to Taco Joint on a Friday with my tummy rumblin' for some fish taco, you can imagine my disappoint when it was served in a HARD SHELL. C'mon people, hard shell? I may not have the most sensitive palate but I couldn't even taste the fish. Sad face. The Conchinita tacos were super spicy and a great texture. I bit too spicy for my tastes but I'm admittedly weak when it comes to spices. The brisket was decent and a good choice if you're looking for a solid taco Guacamole, meh. Rice, meh. Salsa, meh. Overall, I was disappointed. When you've got "taco" in your name, I expect to be blown away by the tacos. Not so here. What I can is that the customer service was AWESOME. Like, above awesome. Final word: It's a decent place but not my cup of tea (or fish taco).
(3)Lauren P.
inexpensive delish tacos...what more could you ask for? the weekends get pretty packed, but you can order take-out either on the phone, or right from the front window at the restaurant, and the food comes out fast! the barbacoa is so spicy, but so delish. the daily special is always a hit too. and while your waiting for your tacos to come out, make sure to try the elotes (mexican corn). you won't be disappointed!
(5)Lois A.
I had a frozen margarita that was great but the food did not impress. I tried four of the various tacos and none of them were bursting with flavor. They were pretty bland. This meal of one drink and tacos lasted two hours because the service was that slow. We came at a time when there were only about four tables full in the place so I have no idea why it took forever. I would come here for drinks again but skip the food.
(3)Sireesha A.
I will preface this review by saying that I wasn't quite sure what to expect and had very low expectations for a place that calls itself "Taco Joint". I would normally not venture to such an establishment were it not for a Groupon. I was pleasantly surprised. The food surpassed my expectations. The service was poor. It took me half an hour to get my bill. I would recommend trying all the tacos...each has something different to offer in terms of flavor. So, 5 for food and 2 for customer service...overall a 3.5.
(4)R to the Y.
The low rating on this review is due mostly to the really, really bad service. Here's a breakdown of my impression of each aspect of the restaurant: Menu--The menu is very limited. That's not necessarily a bad thing; if you do something really well, it can be good to focus on just that one thing. The one thing at Taco Joint is tacos (go figure). They are small, but filled to the brim with tasty meat. Very simple but good. I don't know if they're good enough to completely carry a restaurant though. Service--So bad. Everyone who works here seems to be in a constant state of confusion; the worst is the hostess. The first time we tried to go to Taco Joint we gave up after waiting around for 40 minutes (after being told the wait was half an hour). The place was crazy busy and the hostess looked completely lost trying to keep track of the people waiting for a table. The next time my wife and I went, a few days later, we met each other at the restaurant after work. My wife got there early and told the hostess that she was going to be meeting her husband, and got a table. When I got there, I told the hostess that I was going to be meeting my wife, and she had me wait up in the front of the restaurant. After half an hour of waiting there, trying to call my wife's cell phone (it was dead), I see her come from the back of the restaurant, where she had been since about 10 minutes before I arrived. WTF? Atmosphere--It's OK, though it gets loud easily. The place is really small, so when it gets even a little bit busy it becomes noisy and feels crowded. One more thing: Lincoln Park yuppie parents, don't bring your kids here. Both times we went we couldn't believe how many little kids (4 years old and under) were here. It's a small place, so your strollers and kid bags take up too much space and it's a loud place full of young people drinking. Next time leave the kids at home with the nanny.
(2)Michael B.
My wife and I have visited this place several times. Food is always great and service as well. I recently found them on Grub Hub which makes delivery a great option as well. The food is creative and not greasy. Everyone I've brought there has loved it. Keep up the good work!
(5)Annee H.
I love the atmosphere at this cozy spot. They make a "skinny margarita" that actually tastes good. The food is great - especially the guacamole which is very fresh. The tacos are very good as well, but a few are a little on the spicy side. This place is in my neighborhood and I will definitely be going there many more times.
(4)James W.
Picked up here the other night with high hopes. They have a pick up window which is nice, especially in the summer, because you can walk up and chill outside, so I can bring my dog while picking up tacos. The service was slow but they threw in a free side of chips and guac to compensate which was nice. Overall, the food just lacked good flavor. The tacos were creative, I think the execution of the flavors just falls short of where it could be. With so much taco competition, Taco Joint is not a place I would rush back to.
(3)Rehan A.
Very Goood tacos!!! Will go there again....But tacos are alittle on the pricey side!!
(4)Enrique E.
YOU HAVE TO TRY the taco de cochina, omg it is amazing. Their corn is probably the best corn in the U.S. The queso fundido has a great taste. Try it with both, flour tortillas and corn tortillas. Five stars to our server Max.
(5)Adeila M.
YUM. i got TOGO food today, el pastor, elotes, salsas , and a tres leche cake... my one and only complaint is there was no spice to anything, ill have to ask for something spicy next time. Compared to my horrible experience at de cero this was beyond a treat...the only thing de cero has going for it is its love of spice on food. my desert was TO DIE FOR. im going to have to fight myself to not come here every day just to get it! next time im eating in and getting a drink or 3!
(4)Alex P.
I saw a lot of negative reviews about this place a few months ago so I didn't rush in - sorry I did that because it's great. Nice space, good food (especially the black bean and peppers taco), service was quite decent. I don't really have much to say in the negative.
(4)A.J. M.
the barbacoa tacos, the lamb stew tacos, and the duck confit tacos were all extremely delicious. I've had better tacos in the city, but taco joint does make a mean one for a reasonable price and at a charming location. It would be the perfect mini-meal in a pinch.
(4)James Michael S.
I was a little disappointed the menu changed at 10pm but I understand...the tacos were really good and flavorful. The gauc was great and I had the organic margarita, which was a home-run.
(4)Tania W.
All I can start off saying is OMG. I took a chance on this place because I just started using Groupon and it was suggested. Well, let me tell you folks.....this place, the food, the atomosphere, the service is THE BOMB DIGGITY!!!!! Jaime was me and my sister's server last night and he was attentive and very helpful *THANKS JAIME!" All I can say is take time out of your day to check this place out. The prices and drinks are great! You can't go wrong!
(5)Lou A.
OH TACO JOINT! You always surprise me with your fantastic al pastor tacos, guac and margs. I absolutely love this place! The servers are always friendly and the food is out super fast. Great atmosphere and great food period!!
(5)Hana K.
The food was good but nothing spectacular but it wasn't terrible either. I ordered the guacamole dos of their "Tradicional" and "Rojo" because to me, how well they make their guacamole determines the quality of food. I have to say the "Tradicional" had more flavor and chunky. I enjoyed their plantain chips a lot. For their tacos, I ordered their Wednesday special of the shrimp, Rajas and Carnitas taco. All but the Rajas was delicious. The sour cream/ mayonnaise taste really threw me off. I will recommend getting their guacamole and their "Queso Fundido" which came with a delicious chipotle sauce.
(3)Clark K.
Went there on a Wed. night, fairly crowded, waited about 15 min. for a table, good service, nice waitress, food was pretty good, really loved their barbacoa tacos. would def. go back. Place is rather small, so if it's crowded, prepare for long waits.
(4)Jonathan T.
Taco Joint is a really good restaurant, and one of my regular spots. First off, a zocalo margarita sounds good to me at any time. Simply delicious. I always order the tres guacamoles, all of there guacamoles are perfectly done and very tasty. There tacos are so unique compared to your typical "taco joint". I love the cochinita taco which is a spicy pulled pork taco that has a lot of flavor and is very tasty. The rajas taco which is poblano, sour cream sauce, and queso. The carnitas taco is a duck taco that is super tasty. They always have a special taco of the day and I usually order that as well. The service is amazing, every server is super friendly and attentive. I'd recommend Taco Joint to anybody.
(4)Anastasia B.
If there's one thing a restaurant should never, ever do, it's dismiss your locals. I was with friends last night who live right around the corner and are regulars here. Normally, it's always a great experience. The food is good and it's cozy. I understand that everyone can have an off night, but the staff was so rude, I almost thought it was a joke. Between the personality-less hostess who changed the wait time from one hour to two hours within minutes of our arrival (like magic!), and refused to seat us when we decided to stick around anyhow-- to the bartenders talking to each other about a Youtube video they were watching on a phone for a solid three minutes before they finally acknowledged us. This of course, was after we gave up on the hostess and pulled up a few seats at the bar when we noticed she was seating every other person who strolled in after us. Yikes guys---we thought you were our "Cheers" with awesome Margaritas, but now we'll go elsewhere in the 'hood when we're looking for a great night out.
(2)KM I.
It is 8:34 a.m. and I am thinking about how delicious the margaritas are at TJ. I LOVE this place and I LOVE these margaritas. The tacos are delicious and did I mention the margaritas? Make sure to ask for chili pepper along with the salt on the rim of yours. All the tacos are super flavorful, but small. Eating here is more of a light meal or a meal prior to going out unless you order 10 tacos...ridic though, don't do that unless you want to appear to be a pig on your hot Mexican date. mmm yum yum margaritas
(4)Peter S.
Taco Joint is a great spot if you want quality Mexican food in Lincoln Park. The service was outstanding (even though it was busy because of a recent Groupon) and the food was great. We had the special guacamole (cactus and shaved radishes) which was fantastic. I tried 4 of the tacos and my favorite were the Arabe and Estilo Baja. The Wednesday special (shrimp and fried spinach) was great as well.
(4)Matt M.
I was going to Chicago for the weekend and came across Groupon for this place, so I decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. They have awesome margaritas, great food at great prices, and a pretty cool atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Nimit P.
This place is great. Good cheap tacos, nice selection of tequilla, great for grabbing food on the go as well. Taco Joint will definitely be a neighborhood staple for years to come. PROS: Selection, price, service. CONS: Tiny dining room, long waits.
(4)Stephanie L.
Cecina was delicious! The steak had perfect char to it. $5! The price is fair, queso fundido was a great appetizer. I will definitely be making a return trip. The service was a little slow in the beginning, but very friendly. All in all, a good experience.
(4)Moe f.
All I'm gonna say is that this place is better than all the other trendy taco joints. Strolled in for lunch and bellied up at the bar. Bartender was really cool and had a Stone IPA and a Chucacabra(microbrew from Baja that was decent). Went with the special grilled corn guacamole that was spot on with the plantain chips(a nice touch). Went with the duck carnitas(OK), barbacoa(my fav), conchinita(great), and the ceviche taco which I was almost too stuffed to eat but choked it down(it was delicious). I'll be back.
(4)Kelly B.
For some reason when this place first opened it had spotty hours, but it seems to have leveled out. It's open late night probably because it's so close to DePaul and hungry, college night owls. We had a few different tacos. They're small so I suggest ordering about 3 a person. We also had the rita' flight. and guac/chips. All-in-all I thought the food and drinks were OK but kinda pricey for how small the tacos were. If it's 1 AM and I need tacos, I'd probably go back. But overall I give it a "Meh."
(3)Jessica S.
probably the nicest staff i've ever encountered! even when we left and went to the bar next door they recognized us and asked how the tacos were. everything is served a la carte, and the tacos were small but tasty. beware the margaritas, they are deadly...
(5)J K.
I did Like the tacos here a lot but they are a but expensive when you have to order them a la carte. Figure about 3 dollars each taco, and they are small. 4 tacos, and I left hungry with a dent in my wallet. Possibly the former chef of Minnies is still working the kitchen! also really noisy in the back, or you sit in the narrow walkway. I recommend trying it, but be prepared to bring many pesos.
(2)Becky L.
Taco Joint opened up near my house and is much nicer on the outside than the title indicates. The guacamole is super cheap and comes with three different kinds of tummy chips! They have an amazing Ensalada Verde that has pumpkin seeds, mango, avocado, and apples, with a chipotle avocado dressing. I also love their elotes, corn with mayo, cheese, and spices. The dessert, Tres Leches is also delish and only $3!
(4)H. J.
I never got the coupon they promised to make up for the experience - they said they sent it twice, but the chicago mail service can't be that bad. I guess they were hoping a promise would make us forget a bad experience. Not spending another dollar there.
(1)Adrianne D.
the food is amazing- good portions! the guacamole is some of the best i've ever had. i suggest the ceviche tacos- YUM. it takes a little while to get a table, but i can't think of many places in chicago where you don't have to wait. it allows me to grab a drink and hang out with my friends for even longer. love this place..... be back soon! also, look for coupons for taco joint. if you live in lincoln park, they send them out in the mail. happy eating!
(5)Elisabeth S.
Visited this place after purchasing their recent Groupon. Very impressive! We started off with the Esquites guacamole which I would definitely recommend. It comes with sweet plantain chips which was something different. I ordered the Estilo Baja, Al Pastor and Cochinita tacos and the Al Pastor was AMAZING! The only one I wouldn't recommend is the Cochinita. A little to oily/greasy for my taste. Margaritas were awesome too. Will definitely make a trip back!
(4)Ellen O.
this place reminds me of an airport restaurant. the menus were cheesy, they were out of several menu items, and the service was pretty bad. the tacos we did try tasted like the filling was pre-made, heated in a tub, and spooned into shells. the veggie taco was inedible. only upside was the $5 tecate and tequila drink special. cheers to that!
(1)Victoria F.
Hubs and I have been there a few times since they opened and so far have no complaints. Portions are smallish but that gives us more reason to order a few more tacos =)
(5)kathy r.
I was there a couple Saturdays ago with the hubs. Five bucks for a can of Tecate and a shot of tequila -- my kinda place. Tacos were tasty! I tried the chicken breast because I'm a sucker for pineapple salsa, the pulled pork and the duck. All in all delicious, filling and the price is right. I also had the poblano rice which was so/so. My only disappointment was the trio of salsa. Didn't really care for it. Great service, laid back atmosphere... I will definitely return!
(4)Robert T.
What a great hidden gem on Halsted! I'm writing this review a bit late as I haven't been to Taco Joint in a few months. I have eaten at great Taquerias down in Southern Texas and this almost compares with them. (Tough to beat any down in Brownsville) The place is dark, immediate bar on your left with a long hallway to additional seating in the rear. I had a few different tacos and my favorite was the one with pulled pork. WIth the Marg's they have a great happy hour. Check it out!
(4)Aditi M.
great variety of tacos!
(4)Joyce W.
They have great ceviche fish tacos! So great, that I got catering for 30+ people. I highly recommend their catering. The price is very reasonable. The person in charge of catering also responded promptly to my calls and emails. He was pleasant and easy to work with. He also threw in some extra taco shells and we had more than enough to go around. For the catering, he made a good call by separating the taco shells from the filling, and we filled them in ourselves. It was definitely worth the added effort to keep the tacos crispy and fresh! Overall, I believe our guests were happy with this choice.
(4)Chris J.
At first, I definitely liked Taco Joint. It's got really tasty food and a nice selection of items to pick from. However, it suffers from Lincoln Park syndrome and is definitely overpriced considering the size of the tacos in question and side items. If you are careful about what you pick, you can come out well with plenty of food for the price, but some items, like the guac, really bump it up. But, if you're in the area and craving Mexican, it may be worth a stop in.
(3)Natalia D.
I had a groupon-type deal for Taco Joint and came in for dinner Thursday night. The place was packed, and estimated wait time was an hour. I could not wait that long, and asked if I could order "to go" using the coupon, but the hosts told me "no", since the coupon was a dine-in only. Since I don't live close by, I did not want to come back, so I stayed and waited. There was sitting at the bar, but people were practically fighting for them once someone was leaving. We finally got one seat, and one of us had to stand throughout the meal. While I understand the deal's limitations and restrictions, I have never seen a restaurant be so inflexible on getting a take-out when there is a long wait. Very disappointing. Having said that, the food was great, and so was the service from the bartender.
(3)Rocio L.
Food was good, but not amazing. Seems similar to Big Star food. I went too early and I didn't get to try the margaritas bit I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)Susan S.
We ordered a variety of items and maybe ONE type of taco was decent. The salsa came in "shot glasses" who can dip a chip in a shot glass? The lemonade was horrible it was so sweet we had to add an entire glass of water to it to make it some what drinkable. The one type of taco was decent but i would just skip this place. There are FAR better places to get tacos in the city.
(2)Liz P.
Great location, charming decor. The lamb stew taco was far and away the best I had when I went. Duck confit taco was sadly disappointing, Barbacoa was pretty decent. There are better petite-gourmet taco places in the city, but this was pretty good. The traditional guac was pretty good. Hint: guac for one is enough for two people if you're both getting tacos. Decently priced and pretty tasty, not a bad option if you're in the area.
(4)Raychel L.
I wish your tacos were tastier ...will i try it again, yes ...read on to find out why. If I rated Taco Joint on the taste of their food only, I would probably only give them 2 stars. But the food plus the concept and the atmosphere bumps them up to 3, oh and the delicious organic margarita (mmm ... no triple sec.... just delicious tequila and lime juice). It's a warm and friendly place as soon as you walk in. Everyone working seemed eager to please and made sure we were getting drinks and happy while we waited for a table. I love the way you order, a little bit like sushi, filling out a little tick sheet of options. It allows you to try a bunch of different things without rolling out of the place. So here is what I ordered: Traditional guacamole: yum! Very good, great spices and flavor - we got two for four of us and it was plenty. Tacos: El Pastor - really dry chicken, the flavor was good - you could taste the pineapple and a touch of spice ...but the dryness really killed it for me Fajitas - ok ... the meat was juicy but there was no wow factor ... i could have made it at home Ceviche - blah - this comes as a hard shell ..the shell is so hard it kind of ruins the tacos and overpowers the fish - i would not re-order this one. So .. taco joint I will give you another shot and try some other options. I 'll definitely be ordering a margarita and guacamole.
(3)Tim S.
I hate giving bad reviews, especially 1 star reviews. I have only given a 1 star review once before, and the place that I gave it to closed down. Let's begin. So the whole experience started off bad. I got a groupon to the place. I bought the groupon because it did not have a carry-out restriction on it. I was at school studying all day long when I finally said, "Enough is enough, its time to take a break and get some food." I had a print-out of the Groupon at home, but to speed things up so I could return back to my studying as quickly as possible, I re-printed it at school. Guess what? The re-print of the Groupon said "Dine-In Only." I was certain that the original one I bought did not state this. However, I was not going to drive for 20 minutes to get to the place and drive another 20 minutes back to school, just to find out that they would not take my word. So I went home and took more time out of my day to pick up my original copy. Sure enough, my original did not say Dine-In Only. I called up the place, put in my order, and went to go pick up my food. I was not sure what to except when I arrived even though I did have the original groupon on hand to show that it did not exclude carry-out. The guy at the counter didn't even look twice at it, he told me my order total and awaited my payment. As he was getting my change, I asked him about why the terms and conditions changed without notice when I re-printed the groupon at school. He told me that Groupon was to blame for not originally placing that "Dine-In Only" restriction. Either way, it was a pain to have to drive all the way home just to pick up the original groupon, because obviously who is to know if they would have accepted the groupon if I brought in the one that said "Dine-In Only." Just the same, he said Groupon was at fault, so I took him at his word and let matters go. With Groupon aside, the whole Taco Joint experience was not as I hoped it would be. I left the place with my food, and while I was digging around the bag for silverware, I looked at the receipt and realized I got charged for an extra taco that I did not order. What was even more aggravating was that I never found the silverware, because the to-go person did not place them in my bag. All I wanted to do was start nibbling on my side of black beans, but that wasn't possible unless I had the intentions of scooping them up with my bare hand. In all honesty, I was so hungry after not eating since morning that I actually thought about it, but of course there were no napkins in my bag either so I did not dare make the attempt. I finally get to school and bust out my food. I must say, it would have been nice to have had the taco's segregated from each other. I ordered a duck taco (Garnitas) and lamb taco (Birria), which came with the pork taco (Cochinita) that I paid for but did not order. I also got a Steak Torta (Cecina) and a side of black beans. The reason I wish they would have labeled each taco was because I had no idea what I was eating. If I actually intended to go back to the place, this would have been important information to know, so I could re-buy more of the particular taco that I enjoyed most since duck and lamb were two tacos I never tried before. As it turns out, I didn't really care for any one of them. One of the tacos was "alright" at best and the other two, the other two I would not have feed to my dog if I owned one.. The Torta was absolutely the worst Torta I have ever had before. I am not certain if it was the roasted red jalapeno salsa that killed it for me, but something about the Torta left me with a nasty overwhelming cilantro like taste in my mouth. The meat was of low quality as well. It was chewy and leathery. I took one bite, ate the top of the bun, and tossed the rest of it in the garbage. The black beans looked and tasted like mircowaved fecal matter. This is the worst Mexican food I have come across. I definitely would suggest Jaimitos on Sheffield and Clybourn over this place. Jaimitos is just a mile away and I have been going there for years. Nothing personal to Taco Joint, but I definitely see why it is suggested that people "Dine-In" rather than carryout. If your lucky enough to drink a couple of margaritas before your food arrives you might have a numb enough palette not to know what you're eating. As rotten as that is to say, it really is the truth. Ellen hit it on the bullseye, "The tacos we did try tasted like the filling was pre-made, heated in a tub, and spooned into shells." I hate to give such a poor rating, but I don't believe it would be fair to give this place 2 stars out of mere pity.
(1)Alex V.
Great little taco spot, delicious ceviche and shrimp tacos. Good daily drink and guacamole specials. Cant help but compare- the baja Fish taco is better than at Big Star. Only wish this place had a patio, though then it would probably be a lot harder to get a seat!
(5)Luke S.
The chips were devoid of salt. My baby girl ain't havin that. "no salt, boo" she said, "this is fucking bullshit!" so what do I do?? Don't worry baby, I'll write a bad yelp review. "/swoon" The end
(3)Matt W.
After moving to Chicago from southern California this past summer, and sampling numerous "Mexican restaurants" around Chicago I was convinced that I was never going to find a good taco in this city. After my visit to the Taco Joint I have found my taco home. I sampled the Cochinita, Carnitas , and the Ceviche. All Amazing. The traditional guacamole is some of the best I've ever had. I let the bartender talk me into a "green and black", which is blended margarita on the bottom - Negro Modelo beer on top. Try this. It's very good. They also have a good tequila selection. Order a nice tequila, and sip it with some spicy sangrita, which they make in-house. If you don't know what sangrita is, it's a small shot of a spicy tomato "back" with your sipping tequila. Fortunately I live one block away, and I will be spending a lot of time here. So stoked!
(5)Terra L.
Once again, because of you yelpers, I got to experience the best mouthgasm by the steak fajita I ordered. Oddly enough, their strawberry beer complimented the meal well for me. Next time I come here, I will triple my order for leftovers. Even in the microwave the next day, the taste is still something to brag about. Love, Love, LOVE!!!
(4)Justin N.
It's a branch of Zocolo downtown. It's really a great place to drink a margarita/corona and munch on Mexican food. We started with a trio of guacamole which is paired with three different types of chips. I had the al pastor and fish taco (special). Both were amazing. Don't expect a full dining experience. It's more of a eat and go place. Think of it simply as a "taco joint"
(4)Kaitlin M.
Great prices and great bold tasting street Mexican food! Please for the sake of providing your taste buds with the flavor explosion they crave... order a Cochinita taco and a Grapefruit Margarita. There guacamole and homemade chips are also a great starter. YUMMY... you will mostly likely see me here for lunch today. My mouth is already watering!
(5)Alec C.
I'm not a big grouponer - but I bought one in February for this place. Sort of like a pre-Cinco de Mayo cabin fever splurge that was used as a reminder that it would get warm(er) outside and once it did, tacos and margaritas in Lincoln Park would be a good idea. Tacos and margaritas go together like butter and bread, eggs and bacon, Sunday's and football, Lebron James and 4th quarter clutch jokes. This place doesn't do reservations, but there's a bar that seats about 15, a couple of standing tables along the wall, and in the back are the tables. I'm not going to say me and my two friends were hungry, but 17 tacos, an order of the tres guacamoles, 2 margaritas, 2 mexican cokes, and 1 fresca later.... ....it was pretty explicit. A gratuitous amalgamation of grunts, slurps, and heavy breathing while consuming tilapia, pork belly, barbacoa, and al pastor tacos with cold margaritas. The looks I received from those much thinner and blonder then me screamed of contempt. It was a look of shame and horror as one man consumed as many tacos as 6 averaged sized sorority girls. Otherwise, the tacos are a hybrid of the taqueria, street style with an Americanized update for the Lincoln Park crowd. Big Star has a similar thing going on a few miles a way in the WP. While we opted out of the different varieties of guacamole for our guacamole flight and just chose the original, I found the guacamole plain and bland; not too spicy, not too much cilantro. The dessert was pretty good, a flourless chocolate cake, a tres leches cake and boom, just like that, a groupon for 6 tacos and 2 margaritas turned into a full on meal. I'll be back; the food is good, the margaritas are cold. For the little things, like who's got better guac, I gotta give it to Big Star. But Taco Joint is legit.
(3)Steve M.
Delicious duck carnitas, chicken al pastor and conchinitas tacos so close to work? Now THAT's badass. All of them under $4?!?!?!! Fan for life. Also: friendly bartender who kept me company throughout dining alone. Other friendly bartender who let me sample a cilantro/agave tequila mojito. Fast service. Takeout window! This is so mega win.
(5)Lindsay S.
I really liked the spicy margarita I got, but the chips were downright weird and they and the guacamole were both underseasoned. The service was awesome, though. The barbacoa tacos had great flavor, but I like spicier food more than about anyone I know, and I could barely eat them.
(3)A R.
Went here on a Thursday night after 9:30. It was pretty busy but we were able to get a table. I got a margarita and he got a coconut mojito. My drink was pretty good but his was amazing! I ordered a mojito for myself later (go for the coconut, not the regular). We started with the special guacamole. My date said it tasted like stir fry guac. I thought it was okay. Nothing amazing. I did appreciate, however, that they had fried plantains and fancy chips instead of your regular tortilla chips. Then for our tacos I got a crispy ceviche, the rajas (poblano pepper) and estilo baja (tilapia). They were all great! I mean, not to roll over and die for, but pretty tasty. Especially the ceviche. I think I would probably go back here again if I ever found myself in Lincoln Park. And if I could be more specific on how I would rate them, I would say a 3.5. Nothing to write home about but it was good nonetheless.
(3)Lia V.
Guacamole. Tacos. Margaritas. The holy trinity. Is there anything else needed in life? Maybe some entertaining bartenders and a mango popsicle? Well okay. The name doesn't lie. This place is a joint... a tiny hole in the wall... an AWESOME hole in the wall... that I don't want anyone to know about because I want it to be MY joint. For a long time this little joint had a banner as their sign which I totally loved... now they have a real one, but it's okay. I won't knock it. There are like 6 or 8 tacos on the menu, a couple different kinds of guac, some appetizers and flatbreads, and some deliciously fresh margaritas. I like the plain old classic lime, but they have different flavors like a grapefruit margarita that my girlfriends rave about. They use all fresh ingredients/juices - no sour mix. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Some of the tacos are really spicy so if you don't like that then steer clear of the ones that mention habenero in the description (seems like common sense right?) I personally wouldn't go with a large group of people, but you can. I think there are 2 tables in the back that can hold mayyybe up to 10 people? I'm not quite sure. I like sitting on the end of the bar near the window (which opens up when the weather is nice) This place is totally casual and welcoming. Fridays and Saturdays they have a shot of tequila and a beer for $5.00 - cheap way to get the party started! So anyway you HAVE to try this place. Wait... no... don't... this place is crap - don't go! (My last desperate attempt to keep this place all to myself) Enjoy :-)
(5)Tera D.
Ahhhh, late night food near Halsted and Armitage!! I am going to have to start taking cabs home and straight to my door to avoid excess weight gain! But I digress... I had high hopes for Taco Joint, and was ridiculously pleased that they were met. Although they are still working out some kinks - order timing, running out of items, etc - the food we had was fabulous, and that's what matters in the long run. We had 5 different tacos (beef, pork, duck, chicken, and a stew thing), the roja guacamole, and the queso fundito. My favorite was the duck, and I think my bf's favorite was the stew thing, which had a sort of mole taste to it. As others have said, the tacos don't really have many toppings, they're just a bunch of delicious, seasoned, sauced up meat. The guac is pretty standard, although I did like the plantain chips as a dipping option. And we added the queso fundito at the end since were still a teeny bit hungry - hit the spot! It's basically 4 make-your-own cheese and chorizo tacos. Yummmmmmmmm....
(4)Nikki V.
I had never heard of this place before, but on a casual Saturday afternoon while consuming a few beverages at Marquee Lounge my friend and I were told to go here for dinner. Taking the recommendation of a complete stranger is exactly what we all do on here with Yelp, right? So we took the guys suggestion, and we were NOT disappointed! We tried the ceviche tacos, barbacoa tacos, and fajita tacos....the ceviche is like nothing I have ever had! They come in a hard shell which was delicious...but also got them in the green soft shells- which is making my mouth water right...this...second. All the shells are handmade right there- you cant get fresher than that friends. The staff is super friendly, and its a cute cozy dim lit place. I never would have thought about stopping at this spot, but the taco joint will soon become a regular Lincoln Park stop for me!
(5)Jide F.
I'm a fan! It's not the roomiest place in the world but the tacos more than make up for the tight space. I tried the chicken tinga, barbacoa and fried tilapia. The tinga packed some heat as did the barbacoa. The tilapia was definitely the standout and when I come back I'll probably order 3 of those. I also ordered a regular margarita and was disappointed. It was a bit pricey for the amount given and unfortunately, weak. Maybe I'll try the horchata next time.
(4)Emily K.
3.5. I've been twice and never had a wait either time - though it's been a Sunday early evening and a weeknight dinner. The food is really good. The tacos are smaller but are stuffed to the brim with ingredients so you're not really getting ripped off. Both food and drink are over priced, though the location and atmosphere should alert you of that before you even look at the menu. It's expected. My favorite taco is the barbacoa with the cochinita a close second. Surprisingly the chorizo is really bland. I've tried it twice and wouldn't order it again. Both times the daily special tacos were great too. Original margaria was really good. Didn't care for my red sangria. I normally don't like things super sweet but the sangria needed more... something. It tasted like cold red wine. The soaked fruit was delicious, though. I'll come back, eat good food, have just 1 drink (and save the rest of my drinking elsewhere or at home) and continue to get sticker shock once the bill comes.
(3)Anne C.
We've been to Taco Joint's big sister Zocalo a hundred times and always love it. We finally decided to venture up to Lincoln Park and try Taco Joint this weekend-- I can't believe we waited so long! This place was great. It's small and there was a bit of a wait, but they have a decent sized bar where you can order drinks or guacamole while you wait. The food and drinks definitely taste like Zocalo, but the menu is smaller, more casual, and pretty much strictly taqueria fare. I love that you can order the tacos a la carte-- there's a huge variety to try. My husband and I each tried 3 different ones and they were all delicious. His favorite was the barbacoa and I really like the estilo baja and the papas y chorizo. The prices were good, the food was excellent, and we will definitely be coming back.
(5)Amanda F.
I dream about this place like once a week. The margaritas are so good and I have a bad habit of drinking them so fast--even the bartender laughed at how fast I guzzled it down. So good! The place is teeny, but worth the wait and you can always snag spots at the bar. The tacos were delicious--I would stick to that for food. Pretty much tasted almost every one, so you can't go wrong. The bill does add up, so be careful. Skip the guac, which is good, but sort of a rip off. Focus on the delicious tacos.
(4)Maya H.
their tacos are like crack. i recommend the barbacoa, cochinita, and panela if you're willing to go broke. Me and my friend made a pact. once we have enough money we would come here and order 50 tacos and mexican coke. yes they have mexican coke! i havent tried anything else because i'm too broke to pay $4 dollars more for something else. but this place has great music which is a huge plus. for a place on the northside the tacos are pretty cheap.
(5)Keith A.
well well well, what do we have here? There will be the natural comparisons to big star, but Taco Joint has its own vibe and definitely doesn't come across as a ripoff of big star. Taco Joint is doing its own thing and while its kinda similar, its really not. Its not as stripped down and has a lot more food and drinks on offer. Since I was just grabbing lunch, it wasn't the best idea to liquid lunch and just focus on the tacos instead. I ordered up 4 tacos: Al Pastor, Barbacoa, Tinga, and Birria. The Al Pastor was okay, but the other 3 tacos were really good and brought a bunch of different flavors. Not only that, there was a good bit of meat in them too so you were getting a good amount in each taco. The place was hopping pretty well too for being around 1 in the afternoon during DePaul's springbreak. The service was very nice and did a great job taking care of me with the phone ringing left and right. There's a lot left on the menu for me to try, so return trips are necessary
(4)Jose B.
Well Iam gonna compare this to BIG STAR......1ST AND FOREMOST....big star sucks! This place is PRETTY AWESOME margaritas are awesome tacos even better and music was good....."ambiance" is also pretty grand. It felt like a "mercado" when we sat at the bar. And the bartender was on top of thing without the constant "can i get you anything" over all I am going back....several times over!
(5)Amy D.
I am in love with the tacos here! Each one has it's own unique flavor. I had most of them and I can't tell you a favorite. I've also had the flautitas and a pork tamale, both good but don't hold a candle to the tacos; over flowing with meat and the carefully selected garnishes or condiments enhance the texture and flavor. I'm a big eater and 3 tacos no sides is my max they are generously loaded and most are only $3. I have never eaten in the facility, I've ordered online and within 10 minutes my order is waiting for me. This is a must if you are in the are!
(5)Max S.
Fish Tacos were spectacular. Beer/Margarita combo was a perfect beverage to wash down some really great tacos. Authentic food, local atmosphere, cute waitresses, fair prices. Go.
(4)Amanda F.
Love the price, location, and atmosphere and love love love the drinks and tacos! Taco Joint had a good crowd for a rainy Wednesday night, but I was able to get a table for two quickly. The place is tiny, so I would imagine that there would be a very long wait on the weekend. My drinks were fantastic! I had the Don Julio Blossom and the Oaxacan Sour and was feeling pretty good after both. The drinks were perfectly balanced and a good size. I love a Marg deal, but these were worth the premium. They also paired great with the tacos. Don't be fooled by the modest size of the tacos. I was very satisfied after leaving because instead of a boring taco shell or corn tortilla, Taco Joint uses unique variations like a Mexican-style pita or hearty blackened wraps. I had the Ceviche and the Arabe tacos. The Ceviche lived up to my expectations and was delicious, but was nothing new. The Arabe was a completely new flavor. Rather than a boring pulled pork taco, the Arabe is a lebanese-style pork tenderloin on a Mexican Pita. I still have no idea what a Lebanese/Mexican combo really mixes, but it is very tasty. My only critique is that while the Guac was very good, I was less sold on the small serving of spicy salsa and the chip selection. However, I didn't come for chips and salsa. I will definitely be coming back and next time with my groupon.
(5)Kelly D.
I visited Chicago last week and this is the first place my friend took me. And WOW...I was not disappointed. It's a perfect place for after work drinks and eats, and the tacos are unbelievable. They have several different flavors of guacamole which is something I haven't seen a lot of places. The variety of taco flavors is great. I tried the Birrita, the tilapia, and the chorizo with potatoes. I was surprised to find that I could have eaten three more of the chorizo tacos - they were so delicious!
(5)Kelly A.
This is my third time dining at Taco Joint. Overall, I think they've hit a groove because many of the things that were initially an issue (service, food temperature, overall slowness) were no longer a problem. I've also learned that calling ahead to be added to the wait list is definitely worth it. I continue to love the creative flavors and the value for the money. My only complaint is that it seems like over time the menu has become a bit boring. The carnitas and lamb tacos are gone from the menu which means a much more limited range of proteins offered (pork, chicken, beef and tilapia). Granted, they never seemed to nail the carnitas so I'm not surprised it has gone, but I wish there were a new, better duck taco offering in its place. And the lamb was one of my favorites so I am sad to see that gone as well. The one redeeming thing is that the beer battered tilapia taco, which I believe is new, is incredibly tasty. i found the fish to be perfectly fried and perfectly complimented by the slaw.
(4)Dianna K.
I come here quite a bit. It's near my apartment, but its always lively, quick and delicious. It's usually crowded and has a high, positive energy. The Black & Green margarita is my favorite, a frozen margarita with Negra Modelo over the top...it's the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. Their guacamole is awesome (served with taro, plantain and tortilla chips) and they always have a daily version that is worth a try. Love their tacos and they always have something good on special. Quick conclusion: The food is pretty cheap and delicious...good place to go for a bite and a drink.
(4)Jon L.
Unbelievably good tacos, laid back atmosphere, reasonably priced drinks.... What's not to love about this place? I cannot get enough of the Cochinita! If you haven't sampled their selection of tacos, I would do so immediately.
(5)Zimin M.
fantastic cocktails and tacos! it's the smaller one of the two joints but more intimate and cozy
(5)Susan F.
Alright. Another "mexican" joint to review. I will always have plenty of material for Yelp, that's for sure. Eagerly anticipating date night, I was shocked to find out that this mexican establishment does not indulge your chips and salsa fetish gratis. What? I have to pay for my chips and salsa? $2. Ok, fine. I really needed it. It was the first thing I ordered. The salsa was more of a paste texture and very spicy. It was delicious, but I could have used more :) The chips were a mixed variety which I had never seen before. Regular corn tortilla chips and some root vegetable chips mixed in--I'm pretty sure. I ate 75% of the bowl, no doubt. Now onto the tacos! 1. They have taco specials every day. I believe they are all usually priced at $3 2. They load their tacos on the hefty side. Win! 3. I really liked the variety available, from diff seasoned chicken, pork, fish, meats, and vegetarian. 4. Tacos are $2-$3! Some have compared TJ to Big Star and I gotta say, TJ comes in ahead! I love the big red-like corn tortillas that are sturdy enough to hold the filling. There was no doubling up of tacos. I got the cochinita and tinga and the beau tried the Friday special which had pumpkin seeds in it. He loved it, as well as the barbacoa (that was my other choice). Big Star also gets too crowded. wah wah wah. Our server was very friendly. Their craft beer list (about 5) was actually the same price as their imports which was a win. $5-$6 Lagunitas, please! They also had a deal for a tequila shot and a can of Tecate for $5. We had a movie to catch, or I woulda been all over it. All in all, I really liked the offerings here even though I don't get free chips and salsa :( I can't wait to try the other tacos and their margaritas!
(4)John G.
I see all these 4 & 5 star reviews & I wonder if we ate at the same place. My fiancee & I had never heard of it so we stopped in as we were walking through the hood. My first impression of the place was positive. Seemed like a fun place and the menu looked pretty good. Then I saw what our money actually purchased. The traditional guacamole was slightly above average. The tacos are decent at best, definitely overpriced. My taco salad was also decent at best... certainly not worth the $10 I paid (with some pretty sketchy looking meat). The place has a nice cozy look to it. But, if the back room is packed & filled with drunks (as it was during our visit), it is very loud & difficult to hold a conversation. The acoustics are just horrible. On top of that, there is an odor of baby poop that permeates the place. I thought it was because of the couple sitting next to us (two kids in tow), but it was up front as well upon our exit. Bottom line, this place definitely has an inflated value of what their food is worth (think $30 for a pitcher of sangria). I've had better food at mom & pop taco shacks in Old Irving Park and paid way less. If you're dying for some tacos & happen to be passing by, best of luck to you. I won't be back any time soon.
(2)Ermelinda C.
We finally gave Taco Joint a try this past Saturday and I am very glad we did. The taco menu was pretty nice, even though I would have liked a somewhat more extensive list... The food was delicious and then some!!! The drinks were good, in particular the Sangria. I did not care much for the hostess up front - ATTITUDE - but we were there for the food and it did not disappoint.
(4)Mariah V.
When I saw a Groupon for tacos, I had to get it. So on a Saturday night, my friend and I headed down to Lincoln Park to nosh on some tacos. While they don't take reservations, they will let you call and put your name on the list about 30 minutes before you get there. I strongly suggest doing that. Your wait time is also determined by your willingness to sit at one of the tables in the hallway that are basically mini counters for two or three. To sit in the dining area in the back will take a little longer. When we were faced with the choice, my friend said, "Yeah I don't really like looking at you while I eat anyway." So we took a hallway table. The Groupon included three tacos each and a Zocalo margarita. I had the pork belly, cochinita and cecina. While I cannot get enough pork belly, the cochinita was the best. I am obsessed with pickled red onions thanks to Rick Bayless, and they come nicely perched on top of the pulled pork. Combine these two and you have a fantastic taco. Flautitas aka taquitos were delicious and crunchy. A lot of their items come with their guaca-salsa. My friend and I are the minority because we really dislike guacamole, but our waitress talked to the chef who switched out the guaca-salsa for green chile and tomatillo salsa depending on the dish. The Zocalo margarita was decent, but my tequila-loving friend thought we should try the Herradura margarita. Way better and definitely stronger. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake is kind of dry on the outside, but dig into the middle and it's gooey and delicious. Our experience was tasty, meat-filled and satisfying. If I liked tequila more, I'd probably give Taco Joint five stars.
(4)Loresa G.
Hands down one of my favorite spots in Chicago. The atmosphere is so laid back and the FOOD is amazing. I could easily eat here once a week. The staff is so nice and the management is too. I usually get the Baja, Fajita or Cameron Taco. Go on Tuesdays! Queso-Taco special! Yum Yum
(5)Paul H.
This was a great quick place for lunch. Im a huge fan of street tacos, these were pretty good. A place I would definitely go back to!
(3)Nick M.
Before I begin, let me say: The food is good. That is the single positive thing I can think of from my experience with this restaurant. We came in at 7 on a Sunday and were immediately seated and then we had to wait 15 minutes for the waiter to come and take our drink orders. They came another 15 minutes later at which point we were starving. The waiter went over what they were out of, which consisted of drinks and 3 of the 9 taco types. When the food was brought out we learned we were missing a taco. When I asked another waiter about this, he informed me that restaurant was out of this taco as well. I was angry that not only was the restaurant out of most of the popular tacos, but the waiter hadn't informed me, and for most of the night had ignored us. This is the first time in my life I was tempted not to tip. All I can say is that the place has potential, but I'll never be back due to the awful service. Big Star is a much better choice for urban style tacos.
(1)Sunny B.
Went with some friends, had a great night! Gave it three stars because- Drinks are pricey Place is small= long wait times If you're craving mexican food, it doesn't quite hit the spot. However, it is awesome food. The meat is seasoned great and it's not MASSIVE portions so you don't leave feeling like a bloated mess. I'd go again, maybe at an off-time.
(3)Star L.
3.5 stars My first time here was on a Friday afternoon of Memo Day weekend...and there wasn't a huge crowd (definitely due to people still at work). The server was very helpful and friendly, and told me about the menu items, how they are prepared, and the ingredients that are used. She told me that since the tacos are about the size of the palm of your hand, people generally order 3 of them. Since the ceviche taco (tilapia) was not available, I opted for the al pastor and rajas. I really enjoyed the flavor fusion of the chicken, salsa, and pineapple pico of the al pastor. It was very fresh and tasted great (IMO, it didn't require any additional flavoring). I chose rajas because I wanted something with a little kick (poblano peppers and onions). Although quite tasty, it wasn't the kick I was hoping for (but still not a bad option for consumption if you like veggies). Because I don't eat beef or pork, I am probably missing out on some great taco combos (perhaps I will see if they can substitute chicken the next time). However, I left feeling quite satisfied and think this a great little spot for taco cravings. The location and establishment is great for groups or solo outings, and the cost is not harmful on your wallet. If you're in the area check them out.
(3)Alex M.
A great cheap, delicious place. I've been a couple of times and have had fantastic tortas each time. Both the carne asada and the panela are worth a try. The queso fundido and the sangria are great as well. If you're in the area and are craving Mexican then definitely go here.
(5)Sean B.
Taco Tuesday deliciousness w a chili-mango margarita
(4)Sarita F.
This is my first review on yelp I'm so glad I started with a place like this!! I'm picky with my Mexican food so when I saw this place I was kinda worried. I decided to give it a chance since it had really good reviews. Lets just say I will be going back for more. The place is small and cozy love the music and decor. I was there during lunch. There were a couple of tables there. Our waiter sat us and gave us the specials they have a lot of specials let me tell you. The special of the day. He was fun energetic and had wonderful smile. He gave us suggestions on what to try since it was our first time. We had the 2 specials of the day. Duck confit carnitas taco and a breast cancer awareness taco. The duck confit came with a peanut sauce it was awesome. Smoky a little nutty it was just wow!!! The breast cancer taco had a balsamic vinegar sauce topped with watercress and cheese. They also had an array of guacamole we tried the Rojo suggested by our waiter. No disappointment there ethereal it was fresh and the sauce on top was spicy but not too spicy that you could not eat. Love love love it!!! Over all an amazing restaurant, amazing service, amazing food!! If you want some thing different from the standard taco just come here! It's a modern twist on an old favorite!!
(5)Caileigh A.
Oh. My. Word. I came across this place thanks to Groupon Now. I went in for a late lunch and ordered chips and salsa, two barbocoa tacos, one al pastor and a mango-passion fruit agua fresco. I was impressed by all of it! I'm a huge fan of braised beef and tacos so combining the two was perfect. The al pastor had a really flavorful sauce that I think could jazz up just about anything. It was delicious. Don't think that by ordering chips and salsa you'll be getting a simple basket of chips and salsa... No. You get housemade baked plantains, baked vegetable roots and tortillas with a medium-spice salsa. It was SO GOOD! I bought an extra order just to take home for later. The prices were right, the portions were perfect and the service was incredible. Next time, I'll be bringing more friends.
(5)Eric B.
This place is fun. Exciting tacos to try out. Delicious margaritas. I'd never been there before the Groupon. Tilapia taco was tasty.
(4)Russell F.
Great place with amazing tacos and tortas, all at a low price! Great drink menu loaded with lots of tequila options. Service is friendly and efficient. This place gets crowded so come early or be prepared to wait for a table or a spot at the bar. Either way, it is worth the wait!
(5)Don J.
Great taco restaurant which has very friendly service with very good and very affordable tacos. I have always sat at the bar and the bartenders do a great job at looking after everyone as if they are the only people in the restaurant. The menu isn't exceptionally large but everything on it is very good. The items i would recommend are: - All of their Guacamoles. Their traditional one is ok but they others are exceptional - Barbacoa Taco - Tinga Taco - Al Pastor taco - Taco Cecina All Tacos only cost $3 so it is worth trying them all. Some of them work and some aren't great but overall a very good Taco restaurant
(4)jessica r.
I read the reviews and was skeptical because whenever I read about good Mexican food I am always let down. With that said this place didn't disappoint. The dishes were flavorful and delicious. This place has amazing guacamole especially the rojo. We tried a variety of dishes and not one of them disappointed. This will definitely become a regular spot and a place that I will recommend to anyone who is looking for quality Mexican food at really good prices.
(5)Michelle W.
Mmmm taco joint!!! I work in Chicago a couple days a week and my gf comes and meets me here once in a while for a date night! We don't need fancy, we LOVE taco joint, every thing from the little place to the delicious food! We are huge Mexican food fans, typically traditional Mexican steak and chicken! The first time we came here we didn't care for the food because it was different, we just liked the drinks and the guacamole! We actually went back a second time just for a certain cocktail,which they no longer have :(. Well we got one of each taco as usual and fell in love with EVERYTHING on our second visit! For some reason, the different style of tacos won us over. And It's not usually our style! COCHINITA tacos are the best, along with a plate of three different choices of guacamole!!!!!!! They give you chips with these fried sweet plantines that are very good! (I hated those at first too lol). Even though we are disappointed that they no longer have the drink we wanted, the bartenders always whip up something fantastic for us to try. Just thinking about this place makes me want to go there! MM MMMM
(5)Lidia L.
Great place for tacos, but not your average everyday taco. Expect a little twist with these tacos. Margaritas are great! Made with good tequila that goes down very smooth. Eats Arabe Taco Grilled Puebla style Lebanese influenced taco with marinated pork loin and chipotle salsa; served on a Mexican style pita. A little weird at first but the taste grows on you and makes you want more! This is a little less traditional taco in that the tortilla is substituted by a pita bread. All in all, the pork is tender to taste and simply delicious. Very flavorful! Cochinita Taco Yucatan style pulled pork garnished with pickled red onions and spicy habanero salsa. This one has a spicy twist to it and is amazing. i had 2! For those that love spice this is the one for you! Barbacoa Taco Braised beef brisket garnished with cilantro & onion and roasted red jalapeno salsa. Well marinated and cooked meat. Although a little pricey for just tacos, definitely worth trying at least once! I'll be sure to look out for the groupon for this place!
(4)John F.
Solid tacos, decently strong margaritas that are tasty, reasonable prices for the area. All in all, a pretty good place. I wouldn't drive out of my way to come here considering there are plenty of good Mexican restaurants in Chicago, but if ever in the area i'll definitely stop by again.
(4)Brandon T.
Up front and honest if I am ever asked, "whats the best taco you've ever had" i would have to say the carnito's pulled pork taco from Taco Joint. Honestly my mind was blown after eating here. I can not wait to come back.
(5)Missy G.
LOVE the taco selection at Taco Joint. It is a nice change on standard mexican food, but it provides more flavor and variety. What Taco Joint has going for them is the speedy service, a la carte ordering process, great variety, and knowledgeable staff. They are also reasonably priced too as it doesn't force you to order a $12 plate of three tacos when you know you are only going to eat 2 throughout the meal. The tinga taco is amazing and definitely my favorite. I can't think of the names of the others, but the only taco that lacked flavor was one of the fried fish tacos. Not a big deal though because there are so many other varieties you can get! The only reason I am giving Taco Joint 4 stars is because every time we have gone there (close to 5 times), the front desk/hostess desk is never friendly. We always feel like a burden when we go up there and ask for a table. If Taco Joint could fix the attitude there, this place would for sure be one of our top spots in Lincoln Park.
(4)Sarah A.
Yum. Cochinita is Devine. Elites are perfection. Orange Fanta (don't hate) is lovely. Taco Joint is not to be missed
(5)Alex S.
This place is fantastic for gourmet tacos. The tab can run up fast, but this is the best place to grab a few tacos and sit in a great atmosphere. The wait staff is great and will not hang you out to dry. The guacamole is not really worth it, I wasn't a huge fan of the margaritas, but the TACOS ARE AMAZING. I have been back a few times and really dig this place. If you live in Lincoln Park i would check it out.
(4)Amanda C.
Finally tried Taco Joint! I've been wanting to try it for awhile and now I understand why everyone talks about it. Great location, laid back atmosphere and good food. Good for drinks and/or a quick dinner. I had a zocalo margarita which was very good, and some tacos (Corned Beef on St. Patty's Day- my favorite one, Barbacoa- spicy, and ceviche, which is in a hard shell and also very good). I love that the guacamole comes with plantains!! I do wish they would have given us a more accurate wait time, but everyone was very friendly and it wasn't an issue. Need to go back to try more things on the menu.
(4)Kate H.
Taco joint is amazing. The margaritas are fabulous (Guava is my favorite. It is sweet, but not too sweet like many of their frozen options). The service is usually great. I love Sal, he is great and always nice no matter how busy! You have to try the Queso Fundido and split it with friends. It's hard not to pick a great taco but the estilo baja, ceviche, and al pastor never fail to please! The price is right, the mood is low key, and the food is AMAZING! Go on a Monday for 5$ margaritas and tacos, life doesn't get much better!
(5)Andrea J.
DELICIOUS Tacos and a gajillion different fun tequila's to taste. The only downside is the place is incredibly small and the wait on Thurs, Fri and Sat evenings can be incredibly long. They also have a pretty sweet Groupon Now :)
(4)Jay n.
It's places like this that make me want to move back into the City of Chicago.....AWESOME!! This is not your typical taco or burrito joint. Extremely creative menu and great food. Highly recommended.
(5)Lisa T.
Taco Joint has been ruling the corner of Armitage and Halsted for well over a year now and they have really hit their stride. I adore this place for food/drinks with a group (a reasonably sized group.... the amount of physical space in Taco Joint is not exactly gigantic) or for a date night. I love that you can get a duo or trio of guacamoles - this is great for groups! The ceviche taco is one of the best fish tacos I've ever had, legit. Order it ASAP. The Al Pastor is chicken (which I know, I know.... calling something Al Pastor and having it not be pork is a little..... random...) BUT all is forgiven because it's an amazing taco and the serrano-pineapple salsa will make you swoon. The bartenders are really cool and they have a GREAT drink menu. I honestly can't believe I'm telling the world this - BUT - although Taco Joint does not take reservations, they usually take call aheads. Sshhhhhh don't tell anyone else! :-)
(5)J A.
I am obsessed with Taco Joint. I take family, friends, everyone here. I recommend it to co-workers, neighbors, my maintenance man.... The hype is justified. My favorite taco here is the camaron, although I've also loved the Coca Cola braised pork belly (a special) and the carnitas. Their guacamole is the freshest in town and I love the variety of chips and plantains and fun stuff they give you with your guacamole. I don't know how they manage to always have the freshest limes and avocados here, it's amazing. Even good Mexican places slip up and serve an under-ripe avocado here and there. I'm not a big margarita/sugary drink kinda gal, but I highly recommend pairing your delicious tacos with a Dos Equis-- always ask for a lime. Service is great at both the bar and the dining area. The decor is cool. This place definitely has both style and substance. Not that the River North location is much different, but I definitely prefer the LP Taco Joint. Service is just a notch better and they never run out of anything (which unfortunately happened at the Ontario location with a couple taco varieties). My tacos were also less than warm in River North. Definitely give this smaller location on Halsted a try.
(5)Sara W.
I have only ever ordered carryout from here. The Al Pastor & plantane chips are pretty good but if you are looking for that bold Mexican flavor then I would try something else.
(4)Mike K.
Overall Summary: Not good for groups, food was decent but probably would try another taco place before going back. Longer Review: Taco Joint had been highly recommended by a couple of friends so we chose to check it out. We had a group of seven so I decided to call ahead to let them know we were about a half hour away from arriving. I was told over the phone they don't take reservations but they would go ahead and add us to the list. We were seated around 8:15 PM, 45 minutes after we arrived, and an hour and 15 minutes after I originally called. The waiter was extremely personable and recommended that we try a guacamole flight since many of us had never been there and they had four to choose group. The guacamole came quickly and we felt it was average, nothing special though the plantain chips were pretty decent. Overall the food was OK. As a group we tried almost all of the tacos and collectively felt they were about average but didn't live up to the hype. Drinks were pretty good, again nothing special. Waiter also tacked on 20% gratuity which we felt was a bit presumptuous for a party of six (though he was good and we would have given it to him anyway).
(3)Crissy I.
Oh my god. These tacos are the absolute BEST I have EVER eaten. The flavors are so creative, complement the meats well, and mesh together perfectly with each other. If you're hungry and in search of amazing tacos, that's all you need to know, but if you want the whole review, read on... A friend recommended this place to me and I'm so grateful I took her up on it. It was a Friday night around 7 when I arrived, and the place was packed. There's a bar area in the front, some counter tables in the middle, and a handful picnic table style seats in the back. If you go here as a group at peak times, I'd expect to wait for a bit because there just aren't that many large tables. Thankfully, the bar at the front is a convenient place to do that. Honestly, I was surprised the place was so small, but they more than made up for it with their tasty food. Because our party was small, we were quickly seated at the counter tables in the middle of the restaurant. Not the best for conversation and quiet as it was right outside the kitchen, but at least we were seated quickly. Now, the menu. The enticing descriptions and variety of tacos made it hard to pick just three, but I settled on the shrimp, baja fish, and al pastor chicken tacos. The prices (about $3 per taco) were more than reasonable as well, which was a pleasant surprise. While I waited, I tried a pomegranate margarita which was the night's special. It was strong, but lacked any real pomegranate flavor, which was a disappointment. The tacos, however, blew the mediocre margarita out of the water. The shrimp taco was the simplest of the three: marinated garlic shrimp with avocado and fried spinach. The spinach gave the taco just the right crunch texture and the avocado added a nice creaminess. The al pastor chicken was juicy and expertly marinated. The tomatillo salsa had a slight kick to it (but I'm a spice wimp, so maybe you can't trust my assessment) but was balanced by the sweet pineapple chunks mixed in. Yum! Last but not least were the baja fish tacos, which were perfectly fried in a savory beer batter and complemented by a creamy coleslaw. Each taco was tastier than the last, and a real treat for the palate. I actually felt sad when there were no more to enjoy, these tacos were that fantastic! The meal was topped off with a flourless chocolate cake, which was very tasty and utterly decadent. On first glance, the cake was small, just a stout chocolate oval surrounded by a healthy drizzle of raspberry sauce. But looks can be deceiving, because it certainly made up for its size with its dark chocolate flavor and richness. Delicious! Minor complaints: service is spotty. My tacos and drink were delivered quickly, but dessert took ages and my server essentially forgot about me in the meantime. It was difficult to get a refill on water as well. I'll chalk these up to the fact it was a busy Friday night, but this place looks like it's always busy, so perhaps they need to keep a better eye on service. Second, the $5+ charge for chips and salsa is kind of steep IMHO, especially when some places offer them for free. Lastly, the drink was also a letdown - when I eat at a place called Taco Joint, I expect the bar to serve up a quality margarita to go along with the meal. It's like, the law. A strong drink doesn't compensate for a lack of flavor, in my book anyway. Overall, an enthusiastic 5 stars for Taco Joint! If I lived here, I would eat here every week. This place is tacos, perfected.
(5)Julia B.
I've always avoided this joint because of the ridiculous waits I have heard about, so when a friend asked me to give it a try and help use her Groupon, I couldn't resist, but I demanded we go at an off-time. 5:30 on a Thursday seemed to do the trick; we were seated right away and the service was very efficient. I was skeptical of the margaritas included in the Groupon because they were the standard margaritas, and I tend to lean to the more fruity margaritas, but the standard, "Zocalo" margaritas as they are called were surprisingly amazing! They had just the right amount of tequila to give me a buzz, but not enough to make me feel like I was taking shots in Cancun. I liked that I was given the option to have a frozen or shaken margarita and the option of salt. The theme at Taco Joint seems to be finger food. We started with the flautitas and queso fundido for appetizers. Both were good, though I preferred the flautitias because of their flavor and how easy they were to eat. The Queso Fundido was waaay too messy to be a finger food, and no spoon was given to us. The chorizo in it was so finely ground and not mixed in with the cheese or peppers in it, so my friend and I ended up spilling chorizo all over the table. The tacos required no silverware and I was more than alright with that; these tacos were the perfect handheld meal. I was impressed by the wide selection of taco fillings, I wanted them all at first, but then I settled on Barbacoa, Arabe, and Cecina tacos. And that is the order I would rank them in for flavor. The Barbacoa was so savory and tender it basically melted in my mouth; just as barbacoa should be and I immediately wanted another. The Cecina was also very flavorful and the guacamole on top was the perfect addition. The Arabe was good, but the "Mexican pita" threw me off, as I have never had a taco in a pita, but I rolled with it and devoured it almost as quickly as the other two tacos. As you can probably guess by now, there was nothing to dislike about Taco Joint, from the perfectly blended drinks to the savory variety of meats, your taste buds will be satisfied and you get your money's worth!
(4)Anna W.
Pretty good. I came here with two coworkers with a Groupon. I thought the food was good while my coworkers thought it was too greasy. The waitress we had was attentive and out food came out on time.
(3)Cameron C.
Tacos here were great! Used a groupon here for 6 free tacos and 2 free margaritas. It was well worth it. I tried 4 differnt types of tacos. To be specific, the tacos were gourmet and all were exclusive in flavor and ingrediants. I tried the duck taco for sport and it was quite tasty. For my sea food lovers they have a raw tilapia taco served chilled and the tilapia is cured and flavorful. I particualry dont like cold fish tacos, but the rest of the food was so good i had to give it a shot. i give The Taco Joint 5 stars.....which is rare from this Yelper.
(5)Isabel H.
Taco Joint has my favorite tacos in the city so far. They're affordable, flavorful combinations, and I have yet to try one that's a dud. I highly HIGHLY recommend the estillo baja taco if you like fish. They also have a really good margarita/sangria flight if you're able to get a seat there. I usually order food to pick up because it does get pretty crowded, but it always holds up nicely when I do. I wouldn't say Taco Joint is somewhere you'd go for a romantic dinner date, but it's good food and a fun atmosphere if you're out with your friends. Definitely worth a try for the tacos!
(4)Ali B.
GO to TACO JOINT. MARGARITAS-YES and 2 please! TACOS: Cochinita, Al Pastor, Tinga *Small but super good! Good place for a date (not first-a little ways in to the relationship), catch up with a friend. Not good for groups. I would also recommend the following if in the mood for Mexican food: Big Star, Cantina Laredo, Tepatulco & Uncle Julio's.
(4)Macy H.
good food. their tacos are small, so one person needs at least two or three. the chips they serve with the gauc is out of this world.
(4)Robert F.
This place is becoming a regular dinner spot for my GF and I. The place is reasonably priced and the tacos are super good and made with quality ingredients. Chips and Salsa is also good, they have fried bananas and some other cool additions to the regular chips. Get the Rojo Guac..it is spicy and really good. All the tacos are good, but I def suggest the new one with lamb and the Al pastor. If you want a place that is just a good friday night where you don't wanna deal with wanna-be cool ppl being hammered..this is your spot.
(5)Alex R.
Went here a few days ago for dinner and really enjoyed it! The ambiance is cozy, and the drinks and guacamole trio were DELICIOUS. The only downside was that the service was not that great, and I wish they had a few more pescatarian/vegetarian options, but the yumminess of the food definitely outweighed the negatives!
(4)Kate F.
I love the food here. The menu is small and interesting enough that I've almost tried everything on it in the 5 times I've eaten here and am satisfied with all of them. The margaritas are tasty and fresh, too. Sometimes, the wait is too much and the bar is too crowded, so we go someplace else, unfortunately. When it's quieter, we love to get a seat anywhere, either along the wall, at the bar or at a table in the small back room. The service has always been pretty good. The only thing we've noticed consistently, is a strange vibe. We don't think it comes from the restaurant itself, but possibly the building. Is it haunted? I'd love to hear what others think. Other than that, the vibe is great from the people, when it's not crowded!
(4)Penny D.
I am completely baffled by these reviews. Was everyone drunk when they ate here? I have now tried Taco Joint two different times and have sampled a majority of their tacos and find the food to be pretty gross. The first time we went, we got the al pastor (in agreement with everyone else that it should not be chicken and if it is going to be chicken the chicken should at least be good) the fajita and one other that I dont remember (thinking maybe the veggie one that was unmemorable). I just remember thinking that they were all very bland and boring. However, the guacs were amazing. We decided that next time, only appetizers. So last week, we decided to try again (only because of a groupon expiring). This time we were very excited about the guac, although they were out of the Fruta and the special sounded pretty disturbing (carrots and celery? really?) so we just got the Rojo. Pretty good, pretty standard but a very small portion that looks strange served on a large plate. I prefer my guac in a bowl but now I'm just being nit-picky. My boyfriend ordered a drink that came in a dog bowl. We had to send it back to go in a glass. That was our fault for not reading the description on the menu but it was the special recommended by the waitress and he went for it. He did enjoy it after it was placed in a glass suitable for humans. We decided to be bold and try tacos again. We tried the barbacoa (brisket), carnitas (duck somehow) and the steak fajita. We also got the chips and salsa. Two out of three of the salsas were disgusting and we just put them off to the side and focused on the one good one (the red one, orange and green were gross). The barbacoa looked completely unappetizing and tasted the same. It was like mushy, tasteless but somehow salty, beefy mess with no other flavors except a little cilantro. Although the tacos are small, I could not even take the last bite. My bf had a similar issue with the duck one but was able to suffer through it. For him, it was not bad, it was just not good. For me, it was bad. We both tried the fajita and found the steak to be chewy and tasteless and the other fillings were minimal. Maybe it was our fault. We knew not to eat the tacos. We decided to give one more chance and order the queso fundido. Oh man. I am still having nightmares about that stuff. It was a LOT of not good chorizo with what I think were stale/old green peppers and tasteless rubbery cheese. I tried to slather on the good salsa but it was still pretty disturbing. I could not get rid of the taste in my mouth after and every time I thought about what we ate, it made me sick and sad. After eating, we kept looking around to watch other people eat their food and see if they had similar reactions. Everyone seemed to just eat their food without comment. If it was good, people would have said so. I think that this is one of those places where people are afraid to admit that it is just not good. It's a cool place. The waitress was awesome. The drinks are pretty amazing, as is the guac. The rest of the food is a total miss. I think it's time for people to admit this. I'm sorry. I am done giving Taco Joint a chance. I would rather eat at Blue Agave. I would also rather eat at Taco Bell - Taco Bell has fresher ingredients. Seriously. It really is a shame because I did want to like it here. It was so bad, it even made me miss Minnies.
(1)Johnny T.
Maybe Taco Joint is best meant for dining in? I called in a takeout order on a Friday night and arrived to find a dining room overwhelmed with customers and a hostess who was deep in the weeds. I get it. It's Lincoln Park/DePaul. On a weekend. But, one shouldn't forget that it's a restaurant. As in, it's purpose is to serve food and get money for doing so. I did my due diligence before coming. I knew that some of the taco names were misnomers and that I should order a good number to a.) get full and b.) get an accurate understanding as to what TJ's is putting down. I ordered the al pastor, birria, carnitas, ceviche, and cochinita tacos to go. Like I mentioned, I arrived to a chaotic scene. But for a patron at the bar, I might not have ever gotten in to the restaurant, much less over to the hostess stand. Thanks, bro. Once I reached the hostess stand, I was cut in front of by an irate Trixie. It seems her margarita "only had one shot of tequila and she wanted TWO!" I should also add that she stumbled to the hostess stand, lurched in front of me, slurred her shriek, and had a glass of something (doubt it was water) in hand. Klassy. So, I let the scene play out before I asserted that I was in line (and my car was in front with flashers on) to get my food. I picked up my food (with nary an apology for the insanity before me or the wait to do so), left, got home, and... "what the...?" Order was wrong. I had two cochinitas and no carnitas. I was in no mood to brave the scene to go back so I let it go. I did check to see that I had five tacos before I left, but variances in meat can only be discovered once one is ready to eat. I would have appreciated the correct order but I know the place was slammed and I didn't have a dietary restriction that would prevent me from eating the food so... But, noted. And, after all that build up... it was alright. My favorite of the lot was the ceviche: fish taco served with a bevy of veggies in a crispy tortilla = success. The al pastor was chicken. Yes, I'd read the menu beforehand but, still. The al pastor was chicken. The cochinitas were hard to get through. I found them tough and flavorless despite the spicy salsa. And, I now had two of them instead of a duck taco. I could take or leave the birria taco as well. It had a toughness I did not find pleasant. I get that I am not the target audience for Taco Joint. I get that it doesn't need my business. I get that the names are all over the map and you need to pay attention to what you're ordering/eating. I get all that. I just doubt that I'll get it again.
(3)Nick M.
What?! Really?! Fresh tasty tacos?! Where!?! Sadly, I can't see what everyone raved about in the reviews I read before going. Their only saving grace was that the service was excellent and I really like Coke being served out of those old school bottles (I know, easy to please). I also don't dig the communal bench style seating. Nothing worse then having people trying to listen to your conversation and/ or eye-balling your food. I once got stuck sitting next to a heavy breather which made for a loud eater, I think I'm still partial deaf still from that. So as for their name Taco Joint, that would imply their "thing" is taco's right... wrong!! Eight tacos does seems like a lot but something seems off, like you don't have very many options. Here it's only 1 fish, 2 chicken, 1 vegetarian, 1 duck, 1 beef, 1 pork, 1 steak taco. I sound picky I know but there is more in my reason for being picky. No sides are given, they have to be order separately. They also have 3 Tortas and Gorditas to choose from, and another 3 Antojitos (sides snacks). The menu seems to be lacking which wouldn't be necessarily a problem if... THEIR TACOS WERE ANY GOOD!! They had some flavor (well, some had some flavor), but freshness was majorly lacking. Our food came out so fast, it was like a Chipotle or something (I've never actually been to a Chipotle, yuck). There is no way they can make 4 tacos and a Hongos in 5 minutes, unless it was pre-made. As anyone should be able to tell you "pre-made" food taste like shit. Also, the Guacamole came out a little brown. The Tinga taco fell apart because they didn't strain some the juices (oily mess) out of them. The Poblano rice was disgusting and the refried black beans came with no chips either way they were tiny portions. So it was cheap, two people could eat for $11.00 (no drinks) but really, is it worth it?! Maybe I'm spoiled with good Mexican. I'm sorry but bad Mexican leaves Nick an angry man!!!
(2)Edgar M.
Soooooo I went to Taco Joint after my partner went himself and gave it a whirl. He was so excited about this place that he immediately wanted us to go. About a week later we went to Taco Joint and I as I walked in, I was immediatley drawn in. There was a bit of wait so we decided to wait at the bar for our table. I was pleasantly surprised that the owner is from Mexico City. I ordered a mango passion agua fresca from the bartender and the bartender wanted to apparently serve us the alcoholic beverage. So I passed on the alcoholic beverage and asked how great this agua fresca was? With no enthusiasm at all he said that the drink was just water with sugar and flavor. I felt so discouraged to get it since he wasn't really selling it to me. I almost felt he was disappointed or upset that I had declined the alcoholic beverage. Any way, he made us our aguas frescas and they were so delicious. How could you not want to sell me this delicious drink?? Yummmm!!! -Now to the food. Once seated we ordered the chips and salsa, a cochinita pibil taco, the tacos potosinos, a shrimp taco, poblano rice and the 2 tacos they had for their special menu. One was a chicken breast with balsamic chile sauce and the other was a shredded turkey leg with mole and crunchy sweet potato shavings. -The salsa for the chips was delicious. The taquitos potosinos were very yummy and they brought me to my mother's home cooking. The cochinita taco was one of the best I've had.....EVER. The chicken breast taco with the balsamic chile sauce was oohhh so good. The flavors were explosive and I am now obsessed. This taco needs to be on the menu, like always. The rice was mehhh and the turkey taco special was just ok. The shrimp taco was good but needed some flavor for my taste. Overall my experience here was amazing. I feel like this place nailed the flavors that are unique to our Mexican cooking. There aren't many places that prepare food like this. WOWWW!! Some of the misses were made up with the other excellent antojitos that we ordered. I was here this past Monday, and today again. That is how good it was. Review for todays visit will shortly follow. GO now and check out this amazing place in the Lincoln Park area.
(5)Mark C.
They should remake the movie Sophie's Choice so that Meryl Streep has to choose between saving her daughter and eating at Taco Joint, because I don't know what I'd pick in that situation. Best tacos, best prices, best music. Whenever someone comes into town to visit, we are guaranteed to go to Taco Joint. Go there today and be ready to go back tomorrow.
(5)Kristin M.
I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much, but when a friend calls with a Groupon, you show up. We sat at the bar, and the service was outstanding and super fast. We started with margaritas which were tasty. She recommended the guac special with pomegranate seeds, chipotle and plantain and was delicious and unexpected. For our 6 tacos (all of which were served piled high with the advertised ingredients and very filling), here's what we tried in order of yumminess: -Cochinita-Best. Pork tacos. Ever. If you can handle the habanero (which I barely could, I was on fire!), you will not be sorry. The bartender said this was a definite favorite. -Barbacoa-piled high delicious braised brisket, yum -Rajas-poblanos, onions and black bean sauce. This was not my favorite, but it was my friend's, so I'm giving it an honorable mention -Al Pastor-I've usually had this served with pork, but Taco Joint serves with chicken. I don't really care, as long as I get that delicious pineapple pico! -Ceviche-this refreshing tilapia was topped with crispy tortillas and was quite tangy -Carnitas-this was the biggest disappointment as I expected it to be my fave. The duck was pretty dry and I just couldn't enjoy it I don't often eat around here, but I would consider coming back for another flight of delicious tacos.
(4)Jasmine J.
I can't stay away from Taco Joint. I've introduced plenty of friends and family to the restaurant, and I frequently recommend it to people visiting the area. I appreciate that there isn't just one pescetarian-friendly option. The ceviche and rajas were originally my favorites, but the baja is creeping up on my list. I don't love the shrimp taco yet. Something still needs to be tweaked to make it amazing. The queso fundido and elotes are both worth trying while you pick your tacos, but the food arrives pretty quickly. The only thing I don't love about Taco Joint is the size. It's such a small location and during peak hours it gets PACKED.
(5)Cassidy L.
I've been here two different times and can't say enough about it. I love the atmosphere and music in the restaurant. I highly recommend the margarita flight and the grapefruit margarita, all were delicious. The fish tacos may be my favorite here but I've also had two different chicken and pork tacos that were very good. The prices are reasonable as well!
(5)Bernie M.
This is easily our favorite "go to" restaurant in the neighborhood. Taco Joint keeps things simple, which is why they're so successful. tasty food + good pricing + quick and convenient + good atmosphere + friendly staff + good drinks = WINNER! I expect management will be searching for a new location soon (if they haven't already) as the joint is outgrowing their space. We're definitely not the only loyal joint supporters out there.
(4)Betty S.
Love Taco joint!!! It is our go to and every time we bring friends from out of town (it is within walking distance so makes it handy) they LOVE it. The tacos are awesome, you think you are going to eat like 3-4 and after 2 you are really feeling fairly full... that is because the guac is great and you don't realize after you fill up on that and the queso fundito (amazing!!! best thing on the menu) a four taco order was way too agressive. Don't be fooled by the name, this is not your average slightly dirty take out taco joint you roll over to in your sweats for take-out. It is really cute/nice inside but SMALL- I don't think they take reservations (or maybe I am wrong) or go early unless it is a week night.
(4)Andrew H.
Better than Bigstar. Let me tell you why: 1. It's not overrun with the Wicker Park plague, i.e., hipsters. I've been here a couple of nights now, and never had to stand up while I eat like I have at Bigstar. 2. It's cheaper. $3 for a single serving of guacamole which is easily enough for 2 people to split. 3. The food is always fantastic. The tacos are all good-standouts for me are the tinga and the cochinita. The meats are always super moist and perfectly seasoned. 4. $5 margarita mondays-they make them strong and delicious. I will be a frequent customer. Looking forward to the walk up window come summer.
(5)Rebecca H.
Lots of selections to choose from, fairly decent.
(3)Liz G.
Recently a friend and I started what we call 'The List' (clever name, we know). So 'The List' is well a list of all the restaurants we want to try this summer. The rule is that you cannot repeat a restaurant until all of them have been visited. Then Taco Joint went and threw a wrench in our plans with it's great location and deliciousness. After my first visit, I've been back 2 more times putting 'The List' on hold. Taco Joint opened in the old Minnies, making great use of the space with a bar in the front and seating in the back. In nice weather they even have a walk up window. From the drinks to the guac to the tacos - everything has been amazing. My Favs: Cochinita taco- so spicy but soo worth it Carnitas taco - made with duck, get it Fruta guac- always a crowd pleaser and even better with the sweet plantain chips Elotes- it took to the 3rd visit to remember to order this, excellent. The $4 price may be a bit steep but it 'satisfies a craving' or so says the menu Mojio- so fresh, and not too sugary, when you sit at the bar you can smell the mint being muddled as the bartender makes your drink I've always had friendly great service here and with the location and affordable prices you can't go wrong. Never too crowded that you can't get a seat. If you like tacos or mexican at all, Taco Joint needs to be on your 'List'.
(4)Aaron Jae M.
I had a groupon to this place and I am very glad that I bought it. It is worth coming to without the groupon. They seem like kind of a small place but there is more seating in the back. The front has a full bar and is a great place to grab a few drinks or you can sit in the back and grab some of their delicious tacos or guacamoles. They do four house specials for guacamole and one that isn't on the menu and changes daily. I tried over half of their tacos and enjoyed every one of them. Good place for a date or a smaller group of people for food and/or drinks.
(4)Paul F.
Great food, great spot for a quick bite. Amazing food. Surprised it was so good. I go back monthly. Great tacos, great queso fundido. Top notch! We ate at the bar the last few times and the bartenders are great!
(5)Daniel M.
Dios mio man! These could possibly be the best tacos I have ever had. It's a great change from your typical tacos you find in most Mexican restaurants, yet Taco Joint still maintains that authentic Mexican street food flavor. Not only do they maintain it, they take it to another level. I tried the Al Pastor, Cochinita, Barbacoa and the special taco of the day. Lucky me, I went on Tuesday and I guess on this day of the week their twitter followers tweet their ideas and the staff comes up with a taco based on those tweets.Very cool idea! This day, it was a mix of pork and beef topped with onions, green salsa and something else I cannot recall at this time, but it was damn good. They all were! Each taco was so great in its own respect I don't know where to start. Barbacoa was so tender and juicy, the salsa was a great compliment. Cochinita was very tasty as well and the pickled onions and habanero salsa gave it mad flavor with some spice. The Al Pastor was an incredible mix of chicken with pineapple salsa and tomatillo salsa. Whenever you get fruit and meat together and it's delicious, it's a beautiful thing. If you want to try something new, unique and delicious definitely check this place out. I will be a regular at this place from now on since I work near by. I also think it's a very cool idea what they do on Tuesdays. It's great to have interaction like this with the menu makers at the restaurant.
(5)Katelyn C.
STOP COMPAIRING TACO JOINT TO BIG STAR! Taco Joint does not need Violet Hour across the street to get half the business! Alright, now onto the food! I have been here numerous times and have tried nearly everything on the menu; yes, everything. I usually hate tacos, as well as meat, but taco joint does something with the spices and cook time that everything is prepared perfectly - every time. I would recommend one taco, but I seriously can not decide. Although I can say you NEED to try the ELOTES, they are the best in all of Chicago! A lot of reviews have said how this place can get loud, but that truly depends on when you are going there to dine, because I have never had a bad dining experience. I can go on about this place for longer than anyone will possibly read so I am going to (try) keep it short and sweet! The BREAKDOWN: The tacos are cheap enough so bring a fellow foodie, cut the tacos in half and TRY THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Rebecca H.
The barbacoa tacos are great and the margs are made perfectly!!! If you visit, ask for Sal's section. He is a sweetie!!!
(4)M D.
Went here for the first time this weekend and enjoyed the rather loud experience; would return sometime when we're in the neighborhood but wouldn't go out of our way to do so. We didn't call ahead so had to wait 15-20min on Saturday night around 7p. Had a selection of tacos and my dinner companion had a torta. All items were quite good (as someone else mentioned, you do have to pay for chips and salsa which, especially after waiting for a while, felt unfortunate....but it's a Mexican restaurant so we felt compelled to indulge). Margaritas were tasty but didn't seem to have much tequila at all - for nine bucks I'd like to feel like I'm drinking an alcoholic rather than just fruity beverage!
(3)Allison V.
I have been here three times. The first time was on Cinco de Mayo. The place was super busy, we grabbed the open stools at the wall table. Ordered some tacos and margaritas. Service was fast and friendly. Unfortunately, the second time I tried to go here, we walked in and were told there would be a 45min wait even though there were open tables. I don't know what the problem was but things didn't seem to be being managed appropriately. We chose not to wait and left out the door. The third, and final time, we walked in and were promptly seated. I felt rushed to place my order. Food was brought out to the table in record time and it was just so-so. The flavors were not there. This place is a-la-carte. Tacos are 2-3 big bites, depending on what you order. The pork and duck are pretty good. The lamb and ceviche are somewhat disappointing in flavor. Drinks are moderately priced, but there are specials throughout the week. Both times I was here it was difficult to have a conversation with the people I was with due to the noise. It did not add to the experience. I wish it was better, I was really excited to have my very own taco joint. Bike parking on street.
(3)Kimberly K.
I'm not sure how they claim that this is authentic Mexican street food. Having visited Mexico city and eaten street food on a daily basis, I see only a slight resemblance... However, the food is quite good. The flavors are great and the different guacamole's are very good. They also have great drinks. Micheladas and Margaritas. Yum! The ambiance is fun and friendly and the food comes super fast. We'll definitely be hitting this place up for tacos again soon!
(4)Lauren H.
Came here on a Friday night with a friend for some pre-movie drinks and sustenance because I had a Groupon. Good call. The evening started off on a positive note when they let me sit at a table and wait for a while for my friend, even though they don't have a lot of tables. I enjoyed the Zocalo Flight and while the sangria was not my favorite, I did enjoy the other two drinks. I had thought I would be able to share the queso fundido by just picking around the sausage, but it was actually mostly sausage with just a covering of cheese, not what I really consider that dish. I think my friend did enjoy it though. I loved the elotes (3 to a serving) and the rajas taco was also pretty good, albeit small (which to be fair, we were warned about). I then tried the blood orange margarita, which was very good, but I didn't really taste the fruit flavor. The liquor filled me, so I saved my hongos huarache for the next day (along with one elote) and it was quite good cold and leftover. A nice addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Eliza B.
I'm really excited about Taco Joint. For some reason this location has struggled a bit with the past few tenants after Minnie's closed. It's a great location and Taco Joint is a perfect fit. It's an a la cart menu which is nice for not overeating and they have great cocktails so I really like to go here as a light dinner before going out. It's a very lively atmosphere, small, and has a bit of a rustic feeling. I've loved every taco I've gotten. They use very fresh and unique ingredients so if you're looking for a ton of greasy Mexican food like burritos and nachos this is not the place. Another great date spot... but maybe I think that about all the restaurants in my neighborhood.
(5)Mart G.
Went in on a Friday evening around 7:30. Me and my girlfriend were immediately seated, but unfortunately it was next to the kitchen door. It wasn't that big of a deal since we were ready to eat as soon as possible. If your schedule allows for more of a wait, I would definitely try to get one of the tables in the back. Service was extremely quick....we had our meal within ten minutes of sitting down. The waiter wasn't personable and seemed distracted. The food was really good. We had the flautitas and three different kinds of tacos. The menu is limited. Will certainly go back and recommend this place for anyone that doesn't have a lot of time to wait around.
(4)Derek M.
You know, really really nice people work here. Every time I've been in the service has been great, the people are nice, the food is tasty and it's quick. They've got it figured out and I hope they stick around in the hood for awhile.
(5)David L.
Taco Window is dope. Superb Guacamole, pretty, pretty good service to boot.
(4)Anil S.
Awesome awesome tacos, gauc, refried beans and flan. Oh, and it was delivered. Incredible food!
(5)Taylor D.
The food was pretty good here. I had two tacos with chicago and a pineapple salsa on them. The tacos were very small, I could have easily ate 5 or 6 of them. I also got the pablano rice which was very good. Our waitress was terrible. So slow, and it seemed like she had no idea what she was going. The place was about 105 degrees inside, thank god, they shut the heat off when we started fanning ourselves. I will try this place again because the food was overall pretty good.
(3)Joseph H.
Honestly, I've never had a worse torta. The bun was super crunchy hard. I'm not sure if they meant to burn the top, but it was a little black. My guess is no. It was the least messy torta that I've ever had in my life and that is not a good thing. You can't really top Los Burritos Tapatios in Glen Ellyn...I'm biased since that was the late night drunk spot in the high school days. BUT still, I left this place unsatisfied. To top it off, the beer special was Dos Equis on tap for $2 which sounded great, but I haven't had a beer that flat since I was in college. I mean seriously, maybe a crap bar in Chambana, but not Chi-town. The guacamole was delicious, but that didn't save the review. If you are going to go here, then stick to tacos. Those were OK during my first trip.
(1)Stacey C.
I absolutely love this place. I usually order 'to go' from here and the wait is 10 minutes or under every time. The food is great, there is a rotating taco del dia menu and a guac of the day. (my absolute fav was their caesar guac). When I do eat in, the service is always excellent and the staff is very knowledgable and ready to give their advice. The drinks are delicious as well. I will continue to come back.
(5)Kristen P.
B'ok, Taco Joint. 1. Your tacos are confusing. Carnitas - duck. Wrong. Pastor - chicken. Also wrong. Maybe coming from a Hispanic family makes me a little biased, but when I order carnitas and pastor, you better be bringing me swine. If you're using it to refer to the cooking method or style (carnitas meaning "little meats" and pastor following a more "shawarma" approach to shaving the meat off a trompo)...come up with something more creative and less confusing. 2. Your portions are small. I understand my carnitas taco is going to be duck confit, but seriously. You embraced the "little meats" wholeheartedly. My fiancée and I ordered a $3 guac that came out literally in a one ounce metal souflèe. If you're looking to embrace the heritage (and I assume you are, because the bartender seemed to be faking a Mexican accent the entire time, especially when pronouncing things like "birria", or "modelo especial", or speaking to some of the Hispanic staff in broken Spanglish), then realize that most of our culture, as far as food goes, is all about providing. We eat big. 3. The flavor was lacking. The combination of flavor was spot on, but the meat itself seemed bland and uninviting. There wasn't much going on with my palate that left me wanting more. 4. Your specials are great. $5 mojitos on a Wednesday...ok. And they come in a pint glass. You win the second star for that. I always say if you're going to write a bad review, shut your fingers off and go find something good to write about. I just couldn't help myself with this one.
(2)Kamilah S.
My boyfriend and I came here on a Thursday night, no wait, SCORE. I had a margarita with a negra modelo and the chile rellenos taco and a ceviche taco and the elotes, delicious. My boyfriend had the barbacoa tacos, the meat was seasoned really well and it was tender. Thanks
(5)katie s.
Went to the Taco Joint for the first time. LOVED IT! What a pleasant surprise! We tried about 5 of the small tacos. Pork Belly and the pulled pork was fantastic! The plantain chips were great! Great service, atmosphere and food.
(5)Sean K.
I visit this place frequently and can't get enough of the tacos. It's reasonably priced, seating almost always available, and very good service-especially at the bar. Great drinks-alcohollic and non. The veggie and banana chips that come with the gaucamole are great. The chips are a bit too hard for my taste.
(4)Sarah I.
I love that Taco Joint is in Lincoln Park...the neighborhood definitely needed something like this since Big Star always has a long wait. I've been there three times and gotten carry-out once. Two things that Big Star does better are their margaritas and Queso Fundido. I go back and forth between who has a better guac. The first few times were okay but this past time was amazing! I think I've had almost every taco on the menu now. My two favs are Cochinita and Barbacoa even though they are all delish. I do like that they have special featured tacos (had a pork belly one, yum!) and that you can select what you want to eat on your own menu sheet at the table. You seriously can't beat the prices...will definitely be back soon!
(4)Carolin C.
Simple yet exquisite menu. Very authentic Mexican fare with a touch of excellence. I'm Gluten-free so it is always a concern when I try a new place. They are not a gluten-free establishment but... Their tortillas are 100% corn and their tacos are extremely tasty. The service is attentive and friendly. Great place for a sit down meal or a quick lunch. Enjoy!!!
(4)Martha Z.
I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars and since I just reviewed Big Star and think it's better Taco Joint gets 3. Whenever I talk about Taco Joint, it's confusing to my listener. "So, last night my companion and I hit up the Taco Joint for some dinner" Them, What's it called? "It's that Taco Joint" Them, Yah, where is it, what's it called, taco joint, huh? This game of cat and mouse can go on for hours, days, weeks, possibly years. It's the "Taco Joint". Anyway, I'm done amusing myself. The tacos are cheapish in price and a bit bland for my liking. However, they have a decent selection and it's not as overwhelming as that other really hyped up taco place. The cazuela drink made me feel like I should be lapping out of the dish like a dog. I'll be happy to meet up with you to snag some tiny tacos, but I doubt I will be suggesting to go here on my own.
(3)Eugene C.
I have done food deliveries from this place and decided to see first hand on what the hype is all about this place. Since the place is called Taco Joint I naturally wanted to check out their tacos. I ordered the Cochinita, Estilo Baja and the Arabe at the bar along with a Negra Modelo. I must say, they were pretty damn good tacos. This isn't just your typical mexican taco from like Lalo's. I first tried the Estilo Baja. The fish was fresh with a crispy batter and soft inside. The cabbage slaw compliments very well with the fish. Squeeze a little lime juice to help the fish really melt in your mouth. Next in the line-up was the Arabe. The seasoning in the pork is unique and tasteful and the quality of meat was excellent. This taco was wrapped in a mexican-style pita. I don't know what made the pita bread "mexican-style" but it was nonetheless good and filling. Finally, the Cochinita. This one has some amount of spice. If you do not like spicy, I wouldn't recommend this one. If you are like me and like spicy foods, this one will be a bit tame. However, it is well balance. The pulled pork is super tendor. I am coming back to place to try out their Guacamoles and Tortas & Gorditas
(5)Meredith P.
Let me start off this review with a disclaimer...I had a loooong Sunday Funday prior to stopping in here for some post drinking snacks. Usually after drinking everything tastes good, but these tacos all fell a bit short for me. They were fine, just nothing I would go out of the way for. Guac and Margaritas (yup...kept on drinking) were good though. I also found a GIANT bone in one of my tacos which wasn't exactly ideal.
(2)Ang R.
This five star review is entirely based on the guacamole. I could NOT get enough of it, especially the guacamole rojo. Holy shitballs, it was SO good. I love guacamole, after all, so if you can convince me on the basis of that, you win a five-star review. The tacos were perfectly lovely (I only tried Tinga and Ceviche), but if you like guac, at least try the rojo. The spicy red sauce + the guacamole itself: heaven.
(5)Rachel T.
Love love LOVE this place. Great if you want to sit in (staff lovely!) or if you fancy getting take out they are super quick. The food is completely delicious. My favorite has to be the Al Pastor tacos which have chicken, melon etc in them. Yum! Also look out for their special guacs. Honestly, i struggle to stop myself eating here at least a couple of times a week.
(5)Trent R.
I think Taco Joint is having some growing pains that is impacting their service and food. I have been going to this small, neighborhood taco restaurant for a while (since in opened) I thought that the tacos were unique, flavorful, affordable and the margarittas were strong and good. When I first started going to Taco Joint it wasn't crowded and often quiet (especially on weeknights) that has changed and not necessarily in a good way... I was there with a friend last night (a Saturday) and there was mass chaos.. The restaurant was so crowded (this was very early 6ish) there was nowhere to sit (even at the bar) so everyone waiting for a table was congregating in the small bar area. A group tired of waiting for a table decided to hunker down along the bar wall and order what appeared to be a complete dinner which created a physical divide in the bar area with a large group eatting in the middle of the only passage to navigate your way to the restaurant portion. After waiting and not finding anywhere to sit at the bar we placed a carry out order so we could take the tacos to a neighborhood bar and eat where we could sit... It took almost a half hour to get a carry-out taco order!! In the mean-time a customer at the bar broke out into an argument with the manager over a Groupon or coupon or something for about 15 minutes while customers are leaving in frustration and by this time I had been jostled so much in the bar area I was numb. I was thinking this place is falling apart and the manager is spending 15 minutes arguing over a coupon during a busy Saturday night, she should be making my tacos or doing manager things.. appologizing, offering us a drink etc. We finally went to the neighborhood bar to eat the tacos and guess what? They were cold and they messed up the order (my friend ordered four tacos and he only got three).. After this horrible experience I don't want to go back to this place which is too bad because the tacos were so good.
(1)Susan G.
Taco Joint's catering is excellent. I've used Taco Joint to cater two parties in the past month. For those of you familiar with the urban culture of Mexico City, a taquiza is a great way to feed a bunch of folks at an informal party. Having spent a lot of time in Mexico City over the past 20 years, I've been waiting for a place to open in Chicago that did a good taquiza. Well, some chilango friends tipped me off to Taco Joint and I've become a fan. You can get two or three fillings, rice & beans, and piles of hand-made tortillas - all for a very reasonable price. The fillings are delicious, very authentic, and go a long way. We especially liked the cochinita (shredded pork) and the barbacoa (shredded beef brisket). If you've never tried "rajas" - poblano pepper strips sauteed with onions and then mixed with cream - you have not lived! The salsas that accompany the fillings are home-made; you get enough to keep them for your own enchiladas or quesadillas later. Service was prompt - and they even delivered all the way to Hyde Park. For extra "sides," the flautas were very good; the guacamole was excellent, but unlike everything else - the portion was small. I'd definitely recommend Taco Joint for a yummy buffet for any type of party.
(5)Megan H.
Tastes horrible. Too much or too little spice. Queso fundido had barely any cheese. Don't waste your time.
(1)Neena P.
Popped in for a quick lunch after shopping on Armitage. Loved that it was a fast, cheap place that wasn't a chain. The guacamole was great (along with the plantain chips that came with it), and the ceviche tacos were phenom. I would probably go here once a week if I lived closer.
(4)Katrena G.
I love a good taco and the taco joint knows how to make a good taco for a reasonable price. I have been here many times and have always enjoyed my food. The last time I went I did think the marinated beef was way to salty but other that I enjoyed the tacos. They use to serve a trio of drinks in sample sizes which I miss. Bring back the trio! I also like that they do different taco specials on different days. When I went on a Saturday I got a pork belly taco. Yum, yum, I love myself some pork belly. I highly recommend the taco joint if you like tasty tacos!
(4)Claudia R.
Taco Joint is De Cero's half-baked step brother. The margaritas are delicious and the spicy guac delivers but the namesake - the tacos left something to be desired. We tried the chicken, barbacoa, and veggie and they were all too heavy. I'd go back for apps and drinks.
(3)Darlene L.
This is a wonderful little spot for fantastic tacos and great service. Servers are kind, patient, and efficient. Guacamole is solid and even the small plate can be adequately shared with another. Every taco we sampled was excellent: fish, pork, beef, chicken. Tab is reasonable for authentic Mexican fare.
(5)Megan R.
A-MAZING! I went here for lunch today (opening day) and sat at the bar and enjoyed some delicious Mexican food! The prices are really reasonable which makes it fun to try something you normally wouldn't try. The Margarita list is awesome and they have great beers on tap. The place was clean, staff was friendly and the service was fast. I had the original guacamole, carnitas and....I am totally drawing a blank on the other one (it is listed right above carnitas on the menu). All were awesome! The tortillas were perfect, the meat was very generous and the plantains they serve with the guac are awesome! Great spot - I am already looking forward to going back.
(5)j f.
love the food, but all my favorites have gone off the menu and i can only get thewm once a week when they are on special. other than that amazing!
(4)Brynn M.
Tapas-style tacos... what's not to love? The guacamole is a great deal ($2-$3 for a healthy, fresh portion) and the tacos are really good. It's a small place, but definitely worth it.
(4)Lisa P.
I went to the Taco Joint last night with a group of five. We ordered three different guacamoles to share, and they were pretty good. They weren't that generous with the chips however. The tacos weren't that impressive, especially as compared to Mercadito, but they're definitely well priced around $2 - $3 per taco. I loved the tilapia taco and enjoyed a spicy shredded pork taco, but I was disappointed by my chicken and ceviche tacos. These two really lacked flavor. My friends who had the beef brisket tacos liked them a lot. The ambiance is nice and perfect for a casual dinner with friends. They also have good drinks. As for the tacos, you just have to know which ones to order.
(3)Lisa C.
So I just ate at Taco Joint a few days ago and it was weird because I used to work at Minnie's. Holy crap everything looks so different. I'm really diggin' the rustic look and I thought the food was really good! The staff was really knowledgable about the food and very friendly too. They have four different guacamole choices, which I thought was awesome! The only thing that I would recommend (and I HATE being this person) is to make their menu's a little bit more American friendly. Meaning: I really don't understand what anything is on the menu. I think better descriptions would aid the bi-lingually challenged...like me.
(4)Jodi K.
YUMMMMMM! Delicious fresh guacamole with a special edition each day. The brisket and the pulled pork tacos were amazingly delicious with the freshest of ingredients. Every bite had a different flavor to savour! This super casual Joint is amazingly delicious. I'm for sure going back for more!
(4)martha c.
Been there a couple of times and loved the service , food , drinks, was a little crowded but you can expect that from a place that serves delicious food!!
(5)Mandy P.
Taco Joint has been in my restaurant plans for months and I'm glad I finally got to go - it was totally worth the wait! I pretty much loved everything that my group and I tried, including our service. We started with the Rojo and Esquites guacamole. Since I enjoy guacamole in nearly every fashion, it was interesting to have the Esquites, which had roasted corn. Though I had filled up on the chips and guac, I also tried the Vegetariano, Rajas, and Ceviche tacos. I know people have complained about the cost per taco, but I have to say I was stuffed after two, and to me, that's pretty cheap. The Ceviche taco was my favorite, but seriously I enjoyed all of them. Of course helping me wash down all of those flavors was the Chili Mango Margarita. It was a bit too sweet at first, but that was easily corrected. The spicy chili pepper rim was the highlight for me. And as if I hadn't had enough calories, my gruop and I shared dessert. The hands down standout was the Walnut Flan. It was heaven in custard form! The Tres Leches cake was also very good, but it unfortunately was overshadowed by the flan. I would (and will) definitely go back.
(5)Patrick C.
Great service all around. The Bartender was awesome. Great deals on Half price Tequila. Perfect servings. Went with a group of 6 of us and tried the most expensive tequila at $11.00 a glass and walked out with a full belly and a tiny bill of $63.00. Tough to beat this place
(5)Marielle S.
Solid choice.. I was really craving some fish tacos, and after some quick searching, this came up. I was choosing between here and Barrio (which I still need to try!) since they are both within walking distance of our apartment and have similar yelp reviews. Unfortunately, the fish tacos weren't what I was expecting. I mean, the menu description was accurate, they just weren't what I had set out to eat. Instead- they were ceviche tacos. They were citrusy with lots of avocado mixed in. YUM. I also had the Elotes (Sp?) which is corn with mayo, cheese, and some other yumminess. The corn was overcooked, but the overall taste was SO good. Margaritas were YUMMY, guacamole was great, and the man yells me all the meat tacos were delicious as well. The tacos are small, but they cost between $2-4 each, so it's really no huge investment. We got there right at prime dinner hour, so we could only snag this strange narrow table built into a long hallway. Honestly, we didn't wait AT ALL, so no complaints here. Service was attentive but not overbearing, and food came out fast.
(4)Danielle F.
Yum!! My friend and I went here one night after work for a margarita and a couple tacos and this place hit the spot. The owners are great people and our waitress behind the bar was really sweet. I'm not sure exactly what time they close, because the next week we went back at the same time and were turned away because they were closing. It's a great place to wind down, but I'm not sure I would go for a complete dinner.
(5)johnny b.
Really wanted to like this place but tacos were just ok at best. Cool joint though. I would definitely go back if in the neighborhood but wouldn't go out of the way. If you want good tacos go to Big Star, De Cero or Mercandito.
(3)David R.
Freshly made tortilla packed with a tasty variety of well seasoned meats. The Duck, spicy pork and chicken were all fantastic. Looking forward to working my way down the menu. Great selection of beers and friendly service.
(4)Xtina B.
ummm sooo good!! Went with 2 other people and we split 1 of each taco. Can't say that I wasn't stuffed by the end of the meal. My only complaint was that our server was in no way helpful with suggestions (hence we ordered 1 of everything). She had nothing to offer us in terms of explanations to the menu or fan favorites. Oh well, food spoke for itself. I would suggest it to anyone!
(4)Victoria T.
Yum! Went here for lunch at 11:30- it was empty. Our server was super nice, explained everything and gave us great treatment. We ordered the guac with fruit (comes with root, plantain and corn chips- awesome) and four different tacos. They are small tacos but super packed with flavor and ingredients. I had my 2 year old with me so I basically ate all 4 tacos on my own. The beef, pork, rajas and chicken tacos were seriously 4 of the best tacos I have ever had... and I just got back from Mexico! Love this place and will definitely go back.
(5)Scott C.
Great tacos, friendly staff and a good crowd. i can't wait for their River North location to open this summer.
(5)Amber R.
This place was suprisingly good. I am kindof a taco snob, and this place delivered. I was a bit apprehensive when we sat down and learned that it was run by the same ownership as Zocalo (which we have had very mixed experiences at), but thankfully the food and the service were on point. The lamb taco was the standout dish for us.
(4)Myriah C.
Holy. The ceviche tacos just knocked my socks off. Delicious.
(4)Mikie B.
I've only been here to get take-away, but I can say that Taco Joint is the best concept to fill a space on Halsted so incredibly fixated on being small plate, ever. The fruita guacamole is awesome, especially when paired with the veggie chips (corn chips, taro and assorted other vegetable roots). My favorite tacos this far are the Al Pastor and the Barbacoa. The ceviche is interesting, but I don't know that I'd make a meal out of just ceviche tacos. I will continue to make this my "I don't feel like cooking or getting dinner from Whole Foods" stand-by, as long as they don't change the concept again.
(4)Daniel J.
I've been to this taco joint a couple of times so far and have had fantastic service & food each time. I'm not sure if it was just the day I went or if it is an everyday special but you can go and get a Tecate and a shot of tequila for $5! The guacamoles here are pretty tasty and my girlfriend loves the plantain chips that are served along side. The tacos are for lack of a better word... incredible. The cochinita taco (pulled pork with habanero salsa & pickled red onions) might be the best taco I've ever had in my entire life. The barbacoa and tinga (chicken) tacos are also very good. My suggestion is go there and get at least 2 of the cochinitas, you won't be disappointed. Prices here are also very moderate, if you're looking for a fairly cheap nice meal put this place on your list and give it a shot.
(4)leslie h.
Seems like a lot of the reviewers are from the groupon crowd, I am not! Taco Joint is of my favorite places to eat in the city - my husband and I drive out from Oak Park just to come here. We are a vegetarian / vegan couple and just love it. The prices are amazing too.
(5)Blake H.
this place is hard for me to get too, but it was good. a friend and i went with a groupon. of course we had the groupon deal and then added like $40 each. we pretty much had every taco, an awesome guac platter with different chips, fun margs, and then a crazy drink in an authentico terra cotta bowl. our waitress (and every other patron) thought we were crazy. next time i am in the neighborhood we will definitely go back!
(3)Joey T.
This place is a decent "taco joint" for a quick and easy meal. I wouldn't say the tacos are spectacular, but I do really like the Tinga taco. It is a perfect neighborhood place... somewhere to go to enjoy a cold beer and a couple tacos on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sure beats the old minnies in that location.
(4)Hilary J.
A great little experience! I highly recommend the Cochinita and Carnitas tacos. The flavors are pretty damn close to true Mexican tacos (I lived there, so I'm qualified to say that)! Get a little guacamole, grab a margarita and enjoy the friendly bar staff. You can't go wrong for a cheap eat!
(4)Matthew C.
I think the tacos are pretty delicious. I'd stay away from the torta, which leaves a lot to be desired. Special while I was there was a tecate and a shot for 5 bucks...not too shabby. The servers there were also really attractive. Not a ton of room inside, so chances are lines could get quite long.
(3)Maggie N.
I went to this restaurant when it was Minnie's. I now know why Minnie's is gone. Contrary to what the name, Taco Joint, might lead you to believe, this place has fantastic food, amazing service and the right prices to keep it going. James, our server and bartender, was personable and went beyond expectations to give us a great Friday night. My friends and I went in expecting drunk food, and left with fabulous tacos, drinks and a good experience. I will be back.
(4)Kate S.
Not bad, not great. The Rajas was decent but not as good as others I've had elsewhere. OK fresh guacamole, interesting vegetable chips, decent margaritas. The Arabe taco was dreadful. Too loud inside to have a proper conversation; have to shout to be heard. Therefore not very comfortable. Good location. Interior seems cozy and looks nice.
(3)Shannon R.
I have to admit that my main motivation for going to this joint was Groupon related, but isn't that the point of Groupon? Having that said, I was completely happy with my experience here and can't wait to go back with my friend so we can use her Groupon. The tacos were tasty and the margaritas were delicous. We also munched on guacamole and chips and had a couple of beers - good as well. The spot is small so plan on waiting. We elected to sit belly up which worked to our advantage. The bartender made some great recommendations and made us laugh. Overall, a good dining experience.
(4)Melanie B.
When I think about Taco Joint, I think about how lucky I am to have chosen an apartment in the middle of such deliciousness -- and especially Taco Joint. We've grown to depend on this place for our taco fixes...and their margaritas. Best taco picks: the rajas, with peppers and beans; the cochinitas, with achiote-spiced pulled pork and pickled onions; the estilo baja, and beer-battered tilapia that's crunchy and tender and covered with a creamy cabbage slaw (and I don't even generally like fish tacos). For apps, the guac is amazing, and it's served with interesting chips, and the queso fundido (but don't order too many tacos for your dinner...it's filling). Haven't had a margarita I haven't liked. You might have to wait a while for a table, but if you don't mind sitting along the wall, you won't wait too long for those. They also offer carryout and even have a window outside. And now I'm hungry.
(4)Vy T.
I love the variety at this place and the twist on the taco. The service on the other hand is horrible. It has stopped me from coming back. Once in a while i would crave for it then remember the service that i had and decided to go else where.
(2)Bob S.
I am a huge fan of this restaurant. I live very close and have been here a number of times, each as good as the last. Service is very accommodating and personable. When the wait on a Saturday night is 2 hours, the hostess will take our number and call us when a table is ready. Wonderful! The food is always fresh and delicious and the drinks are just as good. Prices are perfect for portion and quality of food.
(5)Heather S.
Definitely a 4.5--much too good of a place to be a mere 4!--and a great place to come with friends. Excellent margaritas and the tacos are delicious--our table tried just about all of them and each one was a hit. The service was a tad slow at first, but our server was really helpful and the location was so fantastic that we didn't mind at all. Once you order, food comes out quickly, which is a major plus. We'll be back!
(4)Justin T.
GREAT food and very laidback environment and service was wonderful. I recommend getting the corn on the cob appetizer. Every taco I had was amazing.
(4)Gracia L.
Loved it! We went on a whim last Friday night and I am certain my large pregnant belly secured us a sympathy table on a very busy night. The prices were great, my husband loved his margaritas, and we will certainly be back. Great addition to the neighborhood. The service was fantastic for being newly opened. Hope it continues!
(5)elizabeth g.
Too far away from a mall food court? Don't worry Taco Joint might be able to wet your appetite. If you're really craving great Mexican food venture off the beaten path. This place lacks flavor and creativity in every sense.
(1)Lori T.
Had a great time! Our server, Fabi, was great! The food was delicious, although they were out of the duck tacos and we wanted to try them. Will return next time we want some yummy and fun tacos.
(5)Emily M.
Used a Groupon for three tacos and two margaritas. The margaritas were a little small and the tacos were good but I probably wouldn't pay full price. We also ordered the chorizo which was less greasy than usual Mexican restaurants. The staff was so friendly and provided quick service!
(3)Kelly C.
mediocre at best. the guac was tasteless, the steak was over cooked and rubbery. won't be visiting again since there are so many better mexican places in the city
(2)Lindsay D.
What a great neighborhood mexican staple. Its a tiny place with orange-infused low lighting and a couple communal and private tables. Their passion fruit frozen margarita was heavenly, and you cant go wrong with the organic skinny marg. You HAVE to order the traditional and fruit guacamole to start, with homemade tortilla and plantain chips....incredible. Each was so different in taste and flavor; one a bit tangy and spicy, the other had a smooth fruit finish that included mango, papaya and walnuts. Everything is a la carte, so we decided to get the tilapia ceviche fish tacos, the 'fajita' taco with grilled steak, onion, peppers and salsa, and the chicken "al pastor" with serrano-pineapple pico and tamatillo salsa. I would have liked the fish tacos to be less ceviche-esque (too watery), but overall I thought each had great seasoned flavor. I loved the cozy atmosphere and the service was super quick. This is a great go-to mexican flair place to start the night out right without being uber full, since the portions are just right.
(4)Michelle P.
It was a nice little restaurant with a long wait at certain times of the day or night. The tacos were very simple and decent. The house salad with the cilantro jalapeno dressing was very fresh and tasty. The ceviche taco was mediocre, lacking the lemony oniony fresh taste. The shredded chicken taco had a good spice to it. The guacamole was very simple, which I prefer over too salty. I do appreciate that the water is brought to your table with in a glass flask for continuous refills. Overall, the food was fresh and simple. I would go back again to enjoy.
(3)John G.
This place will obviously be compared to Big Star, which I feel is very unfair. While this place, from the owners of Zocalo, and Big Star both make the most socially awkward comfortable, and definitely feel more like a bar than a fancy restaurant, I feel that is where the comparison should end. While Big Star is meant to give the atmosphere of some Bakersfield "Honky Tonk" circa 1955, Taco Joint gives the pure cantina feel of Mexico City. With a plethora of tequilas, including the ones we are all familiar with, as well as some ones you usually don't see this side of the Rio Grande, and a decent selection of beer, both US craft and Mexican imports, it definitely competes with Big Star in the booze category, however I decided to go with a Jarritos soda in honor of my small town friends who grew up in counties that didn't sell booze on Sunday :). When it comes to the food the guacamole is excellent at both! I will say though that I consider the guacamole at Taco Joint more authentic, and therefore better! My gf and I got the "Especial" which was a traditional guac or avocados, tomatoes, and corn topped with a sprinkling of cheese.......in my opinion the corn made this for me! Also, the variety of plantain, taro, and tortilla chips were excellent! We then each ordered 3 tacos each.....I went with the birria, barbacoa, and duck carnitas (YUM!!!!), my gf chose the barbacoa, al pastor (chicken not pork though), and cochinita. All my tacos were excellent! They were not the typical "street food" type tacos that you get at Big Star, or other taquerias in Chicago, but were definitely something a taco that was put together with great meat, and a stew or salsa covering the taco similar to those tacos that you might find in a cantina in Mexico city. For example the birria taco was excellent lamb with a pork stew some type of salsa. Absolutely terrific! So the tacos here are excellent!!!! The guac is excellent!!!! And while I actually like the tacos here better than Big Star's (sorry Paul), since I think it is more authentic Mexican, and I frankly like that better. That being said I love love love the atmosphere at Big Star. Something about being able to listen to Merle Haggard, drink some Schlitz & artisan bourbon, and eat excellent excellent Mexican food that just suits me better! However, Taco Joint is a lot closer to my gf's place, and I actually prefer the food better. All and all if you are looking to hang our for hours, drink, and listen to tunes I suggest Big Star. However, if you are looking for excellent, and authentic, Mexican food, in a fun location in LP than Taco Joint is absolutely your place. I will be sure to return many times to this place!
(4)Luis B.
I loved this place! I had a few different types of tacos and they were delicious. Margaritas were good as well. The decor is really cool inside too. Great place for good food and a casual atmoshphere. Just don't expect this to be your tradiotional Mexican food joint, they are creative with their menu.
(5)Timothy P.
I went to Taco Joint and thought their Arabe Tacos were great.
(5)Tami S.
Delicious tacos and guacamole! Delivery was super fast via grub hub. Only complaint was that it was cold when it arrived, but other than that in perfect condition.
(3)Samson P.
We were craving fish tacos one day and we drove by this place called Taco Joint. What's cool is that we could order curbside since they had a carryout window. You could also go inside to dine in and they had tvs as well. We ordered 6 ceviche pescado(fish) tacos, one beef brisket taco, and one duck confit taco. Ay Carumba! The fish tacos were stellar!!! A MUST EAT comfort food. It was a crunchy hard taco with fresh ceviche and fish. The duck confit taco was a little dry and the beef brisket taco wasn't bad. Veridct: You must try the Ceviche Pescado Tacos! Even if you don't like fish tacos, you'll like 'em.
(4)Sally D.
Last night we went to the Taco Joint for the 100th time (okay maybe not the 100th time). And as always it was good. The food is consistently good. The service is friendly and efficient. Their margaritas are one of the best in the city. The taco's are the right size so you can enjoy two or even three without feeling stuff and the prices can't be beat, $2 to $3 per taco. The tacos are small but are over flowing with ingredients. The volume is a bit loud at times in the dining room and the wait can be long if you go in the evening but these are very small nuisances compared to the huge flavor of their food. I actually enjoy going at lunch and sitting at the bar, a couple of taco's and a margarita makes the perfect break from shopping without too much of a dent in your wallet.
(4)Zach F.
"The Big Star of Lincoln Park" That's really all I could think as I ate here on opening night with my girlfriend. As has already been mentioned the beer selection (at this point) is relatively small, but the bartenders both seemed to know their way around their tequilas -- though don't be fooled when they throw down a tequila bottle and two small glasses with ice on your table, that's just their kitchy way of serving water. The house margarita was nothing to write home about, but the hibiscus offering was sweet without being overwhelming. Priced around $8 they're not cheap, but not too steep either. We started off with the "Fruta" guacamole and a steak flatbread. While the guac did come with fried plantain chips in addition to the usual tortilla chips, the guac itself was good but not great. The steak flatbread was delicious (and very big for 2 people) but was a bit on the dry side. As for the tacos: they're small and light on the veggies, but heavy on the meat (just the way I like 'em). I had the cochinita (pulled pork), carnitas (duck) and barbacoa, while my gf had the cochinita and the al pastor (chicken). It's a bit weird since the al pastor here is chicken while the carnitas is duck but hey -- to each his own. The cochinitas were by far the best, followed by the barbacoa then the carnitas. The al pastor taco was a bit dry but not bad. Taco Joint is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and a great Lincoln Park alternative to Big Star. Let's hope this place lasts longer than the sushi place that occupied the space before it.
(4)Brian S.
Tamara and I stopped in for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon walk. We loved Minnies when it was here, but we thought its followup, the small plates Japanese place, was okay at best (and I can't even remember its name now - how sad is that?). At any rate, we felt compelled to to try the new "Joint." What will become of this location now that it's been transformed into an "upscale urban taqueria" (sounds familiar to the disastrous Barrio on Diversey)? Pros * Awesome red salsa. Loved the two non-corn types of chips served with it. Plantain and some other vegetable. * Duck taco was fantastic. I don't know how they managed to keep the confit so moist. I've had duck tacos elsewhere that were dry and tough. This was so flavorful. Also it had toasted pumpkin seeds on it for crunch which were a great addition! * Pork taco was also delicious. Meat was well cooked, pleasantly spicy, and I'm a sucker for pickled red onions. * Elote year round - woohoo! Cons * Elote year round = lousy out of season corn. * The place looks like it was decorated by the corporate brand experience designer of a Mexican restaurant chain more typically located in suburban strip malls * Were the corn tortilla chips out of a bag? Definitely not freshly made * The mushroom flatbread was too much topping on too soggy masa. And not enough cheese. This would be a passable dish if I made it at home on a Tuesday night, but it's not a restaurant worthy presentation. Bottom line I'd come in again with a group of meat-eating guy friends. Not good for dates or for Tamara as a non-meat-eater. Tacos were fantastic. Maybe ill try the elote again once corn is back in season!
(3)Sarah E.
Is a carnitas taco traditionally duck confit? Probably not, but that aside, this is a perfect spot for cheap eats and a couple beers. I wasn't expecting to find authentic carnitas in Lincoln Park anyway. If I was a tequila drinker, I might be impressed by the selection of tequila behind the bar. Alas, I think tequila is the devil's piss. I keep reading about bad service, and that has not traditionally been my experience.
(4)Susan L.
Margs are interesting and delish. Tacos are decent...(but hard shell tacos are too hard). Menu is annoying. Don't make me order everything a la cart, and don't make your prices so redic that a 2-taco order plus sides ends up being $15 but still offers less food than typical meals... I might go back for margaritas, and I might order an app, but I don't think I'd like to go back for my main meal.
(3)Cara V.
Good local taco joint and bar
(5)Tiff W.
Big Star, you have a new competitor in Lincoln Park. Sure, Taco Joint doesn't have the whiskeys you have, but they do have an insane number of different tequilas (25 and counting). And even though their beer selection is kind of lacking, Taco Joint has some great margaritas. Taco Joint has a really good selection of tacos...all at $2 or $3 each. I got the cochinita (pulled pork with pickled red onions), birria (lamb & pork stew), and carnitas (crispy duck confit). I was a little confused, since carnitas is usually pork, but I didn't really care once I tasted it...the duck taco was by far my favorite. The flour tortillas were piled on with meat, and I was definitely feeling good after having 3 tacos. We also got two different kinds of guac, the rojo & the fruta. Both were served regular tortilla chips, plantain chips, & some taro-like chips. Both were tasty. I don't think any place could ever replace Big Star, but for someone who doesn't want to trek all the way to Wicker Park all the time for cheap delicious tacos, Taco Joint is a great alternative!
(4)Tammy M.
Loved Taco Joint! Food and service were excellent. We sat at the bar for dinner and our bartender was awesome. Great suggestions, made us skinny margaritas off menu and was fun and friendly. Guac trio was outstanding. We split several tacos. Loved the tinga sope and garlicky shrimp taco. Tortillas were very good. What set it apart for me were the spices. Flavorful and smoky. Yum! We will be back!
(5)Nevin H.
If you missed out on the little $7 Groupon for this joint you will surely be sorry. This little place is awesome! Great little tacos! This isn't your $1.75 taco joint, but they do have choices as low as $2. For the quality of the food, very good. Tried the fajita, the ceviche, and the chicken taco (the tinga I believe) and they all were awesome. The ceviche taco is super crunchy! I loved it, contrary to some others. All were very flavorful, not run of the mill. I didn't even need any additional sauce, and I'm definitely a sauce guy. The guacamole was great too, had the one with the rojo sauce, awesome, and the special of the day which had roasted apples and prickly pear, equally awesome! Not large portions but I've had less fresh guacamole at regular taco spots with smaller portions for the same price. So I typically pass on it. This is definitely a spot to check out, very reasonable, with a Groupon even better! Definitely one of my top Mexican restaurants at this time. I definitely consider myself a foodie, and am not impressed easily. So you can take it for what it is. Cheers!
(5)Karen L.
Only been here once but was not super impressed. Went in for a quickie dinner and it was definitely fast! Almost faster than some fast food! I got two tacos and shared a single guac and it was more than enough food for a casual dinner. I was a bit disappointed in the guac as it wasn't as fresh as it should have been. The shrimp taco was pretty good but the barbacoa taco... I couldn't even eat it, it was SO spicy! I should have noted on the menu that it had a jalepeno salsa. But still, I don't think anything should ever be that spicy that is not self-added to your own food. But overall if you are looking for a fast, cheap meal... try it out!
(3)Firas K.
This place was real nice! The food was great, especially the corn or "lotes". The servers are always really nice and make you feel like your at home. The only thing I didn't like was the spacing. I felt it was too crammed and I needed more room. Other then that it was great
(4)Andres B.
Excellent Tacos! Quick service, fresh& fun atmosphere. Easy breezy taco menu that has daily specials. Only place that the kids go for fish Tacos. Excellent Margarita and fun creative atmosphere. Walked in last night w/Kids and had fantastic MEal! Design: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Price/ Value: 4/5 Food Look: 3/5 Food Inventiveness: 4/5 Crowd: 3/5 Drink Variety: 4/5
(5)Linsey R.
I'm pretty sure that Cochinita Taco is one of the best foods in Chicago!! Soooo delicious. I've ordered for delivery and dined in - both are great. The space is cute, service is friendly, definitely a fav.
(4)Borracho G.
I didn't eat here so my review is based on the tequila bar. Interesting selections and they offer tasting prices which are reasonable for the high grade of tequila you are trying. It was so hard to make a choice so I went on bottle looks and a bit of help from the bartender who was knowledgeable in the types. Drank one t in a devil skull and then another in a ceramic genie bottle. The devil skull was called Kah but I cant remember the name of genie one but it was the best. Check my added photo and I circled both in red. Good times and first time I got hammered by sipping tequila.
(3)Annika v.
One of my go to Chicago restaurants. It is little inside so it can get crowded but always worth the wait. I alwasy order the black and green margarita it is out of this world. Don't miss the guac, it comes with amazing non traditional chips that are less guilty of an indulgence!! And onto the taccos I haven't had a bad one I always try to switch it up but end up typically sticking to the barbacoa and rajas as they are just that good. Highly recommend this little gem.
(5)Francesca L.
My friend and I decided to get some beer and tacos before heading to a show. Our experience was mediocre. The tacos, chips, salsas and guacamole were all reasonably priced but just lacking of some kind of pop to differenate this place from similar taco joints. My friend had the fish taco and really was not impressed as her shell was too crunchy and fell apart after one bite. had a raja and it was fine. The decor is very cheesy and the seating/layout is bad. We sat at a table along the south wall and the seats are so oddly placed and not comfortable.
(3)Liz P.
This place has been open for about a month and I've already been there twice... I have read a few things about cold food and tacos falling apart. Both times I've been there I have had no problem with the food being cold. Also, between me and the four other people I've visited with we've probably ordered a total of 12 tacos and none of them fell apart. We did, however, have one person order the Taco Joint Salad as his meal and it took the entire meal for it to come out which was disappointing, but we had plenty of guac to keep us company while we waited so it wasn't too terrible. On to the food: FRUITY GUACAMOLE. You must try it - its delish. The "spicy" guac is great as well, but the fruity guacamole is awesome [especially if you happen to have a friend who will do a fruity guacamole dance with you at the table when you order it]. My advice: start out with the guacamole trio. They serve it with plantains which makes it even more awesome than it already is on its own [note: I would eat this guac with a spoon]. So far I have loved all three tacos I've tried: Cochinita: A bit spicy, but not too bad. I am a total wuss when it comes to spice and I would 100% order it again Ceviche: A must. They were sold out the second time I went and I have never been sadder to miss out on a $2 taco Carnita: Great flavor, would definitely get it again Have also had the Papas con Chorizo Huarache and the Cecina Torta. The huarache was delightful, it came recommended by the waiter and I thank him for that. The torta was meh - I was not a fan of the bread that it was served on [may just be a personal thing] and I thought it was a bit dry. The torta was the only thing that I haven't enjoyed on the menu and I don't think I'd try another torta. The torta/huarache choices can be made into one or the other - the torta almost takes away from the flavor with all the bread. I would probably try the Cecina as a huarache if I was to order it again. Passion Mango and Blood Orange frozen margaritas = awesome and definitely no scrounging on the booze. Sangria was pretty good as well but was a bit sweet to have more than one glass. As far as order size: Between me and another girl we split the guac trio, split a huarache, and ordered two tacos each. If I was to do it over again I would order two guacs [spicy and fruity - skip the plain if you aren't getting all three] and skip the second taco. Overall, a fantastic restaurant but missing the fifth star due to the small menu - doesn't lend itself to as much experimentation which would allow me to go there more often and try new things.
(4)Kristen K.
Yo quiero Taco Joint! I have a feeling this will become my new fav late night eatery once Summer season hits! We went with a group of 5 on a Monday and sat right down at 7pm. Started off with a 'traditional' Margarita for a well priced $7. Just enough tart-ness with just enough Tequila. Just ok. We all shared the 3-guacamole sampler.... the original, a special of the day (roasted corn), and the fruit guac - let me tell you each one was tastier than the next. The chips and fried plantains were crisp and hot. And the trio was enough for all 5 of us. I had the Al pastor, Tilapia, and Barbacoa. All were delicious and flavorful. I really liked the Al pastor and I also tried the fajita taco, which would have come in second place. Overall, cheap meal $3 per taco (I mean comon!) and wonderful service. I will for sure be back!
(4)Kelly S.
This place has awesome food and a great environment. The staff is friendly and the food comes quickly. Everything is based on Mexican street food, so most things are little bites of flavor. They have 4 kinds of a Guac a night and the Rojas is my favorite! I would Their tacos are very good--they even have Duck confit as a filling! The Al pastor taco is really tasty! On Friday nights they have a really great special-- $5 for a shot of tequila and a can of Tecate! We definitely had a few rounds of those! Also, one of my friends had a margarita and loved it. Overall they have a great Mexican drink selection. The only thing preventing 5 stars is the price (other than the awesome alcohol special). All the tacos are a la carte, so it can get a bit expensive if you're really hungry. Also the place can get very loud on the weekends. Other than that, it's well worth your time and money and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a new take on Mexican food!
(4)Kelly H.
This place is ok for Mexican-nothing special. My friends and I were looking for some happy hour margs during the week and ended up here. Atmosphere was great-except I'm not a huge fan of group tables. The guacamole was delicious, but both my friends got a little sick after eating their tacos. Overall, great service, great location, ok food-probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)Kevin T.
Great addition to the neighborhood. Trying to emulate street food with a modern flare. If I was around this neighborhood, this is where I'd come to grab a bite. Huarache was delicious. Large variety of tacos, all were interesting (though they need a lengua option!). Guacamole was great. Will definitely be back.
(4)Viana O.
Normally, I am not a fan of Mexican food but the food here is spectacular. It's not your usual Mexican restaurant. The food is unique in flavor.
(5)Kat J.
I would say 3.5 stars. It has a great atmosphere, the staff is extremely friendly. Great place to eat with friends. Tacos are great.
(4)Tough B.
As an update to my previous review, the service has become worse and has caused me to veto any suggestion to eat at Taco Joint in the future with my friends, family, and company party. The hostess, in particular, does know how to do her job and has messed up the two times I have been there. She just seem oblivious to her job and has made my experience at Taco Joint less than stellar, even when the tacos come out great. When I complained to the manager, she just gave us another stool and walked away with no apology of the poor service of the hostess. The hostess continued staring outside the window or checking her phone. ------------------old review--------------------- Pretty good tacos! There is a lot of meat, but the tacos are pretty small. Food comes out quick too. Drinks are good and I liked the chips and salsa (although you have to buy them separately, which kind of sucks). The first time I came here, the service was pretty bad. The waiter forgot our drinks, after scrutinizing our ID's for a very long time. We ended up canceling that order, and he didn't even compensate for it. They never refilled our water, and we had to keep asking for it. The waiter was more interested in the group of girls, but people who would actually give him a nice tip (which didn't end up happening).
(2)Rita W.
Taco Joint is hopping! I went with my girl friends to Taco Joint last night, there were four of us and we went during 7ish and had to wait since they would not seat all of us until our party was all there. The restaurant is not that big and they have managed to make great use of the space as they have little bar areas wherever you can find room! The crowd is lively and the noise level definitely speaks volumes (ha ha). I felt like I was constantly yelling just to talk to my friends since it was so loud in there. I was a bit dissappointed in my choices. I had the mojito, it was ok but not too exciting. I ordered the duck taco and cerviche taco. The cerviche was good, refreshing, though the taco was a big too crunchy for my liking. The duck taco was dry and boring. I think it may have been better with some kind of sauce? All it was, was dry duck meat and pepitoes and well it tasted kinda like sand. We also ordered the elotes, this was my bad since I don't really like mayo but the corn came SLATHERED in cheese and mayo and it just tasted sort of sour and the corn was way over cooked. My two friends shared the chorizo torta - I had some of that, and it was actually my favorite thing. The combination of spicy and sweet flavors, sweet potato and meat was divine! I wish I had ordered that as my main entree! The prices are pretty reasonable. We each ordered a cocktail, an order (for two) of guac to share, and we each either had a couple tacos and we each probably paid a little less than $20. Since the prices are reasonable, I would not mind coming back here and trying something else on the menu. However, since the food did not stand out to me, other restaurants would be my choice before going back to this one.
(3)Ben Z.
I've been here twice and had a great meal both times. The tacos are tasty and fresh, without being overdone. The menu is small and doesn't have many thrills, but if you're hankering for some satisfying and authentic Mexican street food this is your place. It's also relatively cheap. The last time I was there they had a Tecate+Tequila shot special for $5. Not too shabby!
(4)Das Y.
If you want great tacos this is the place to go. Some of the best I've had in Chicago. Only major problem is that if you go at a reasonable time for dinner you'll have to wait for an hour to be seated. There food is really nice just be prepared to wait and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Bridget E.
My friends were in town on a layover to Ireland, flying out of O'Hare. They wanted to stop at the Paul Frank store on Armitage (which we found out was closed), but that's a whole other story. After doing a little window shopping, we didn't have much time, so we found somewhere in walking distance to eat. By a stellar recommendation from the fabulous man working at Lush, he told us to stop into Taco Joint. It was new. It was a sunny Friday afternoon around 3pm & we were all ready for a margarita. That's what we ordered and they were fabulous. Mixed very well & very tasty. The menu is meant to share with friends, so we all ordered an array of tacos. I can't remember exactly which ones we ordered, but two that stuck out in my mind were the duck & pulled pork. Definitely worth tasting. They also used plantain chips for their salsa. This was unique and made me want to stop back for more! I saw a man walking around who looked "in charge". Turns out, he was the owner & was incredibly friendly. Very social and gave us background about his favorite dishes and the food. Definitely would recommend and will definitely go back!
(4)Sarah L.
I'm starting to realize the majority of my reviews start out with a beverage. Why shake things up now? Chili-Mango Margarita. Yep. It's done. A delightful mixture of sweet mango, salty salt, tart lime, and spicey chili. It's hard to have just one of these suckers so I suggest that you save yourself the moral delima and just order 2 right off the bat. The regualr margaritas are good as well... but... i don't feel like i need to say more on that. Tacos- good. These tacos are not authentic mexican tacos so do not expect those. If you do not start there you are going to have your mind blown. TJ takes your basic taco like a classic pork taco on a corn tortilla and snazzies it up a bit. We're talking about putting a sassy hat on it and maybe an ascott, perchance a anklet, and then a full sleave of angry biker tatoos. needless to say, this taco just became a bad ass. In reference to the pork taco of the past, TJ has Lazerused the taco into a pulled pork taco with pickled red onions and a spicy habenero sauce. delicious! The other that I can never deny is the baracoa. Brisket, cilantro, onion and jalpeno salsa. Yep. I am now hungry. Those two are by far my favorites so I usualy just stock up on them. The cheviche taco holds its on with talipia and fruit and the fijita taco is always claimed by someone at my table, but neither one has earned a seat at my winner's table. The tacos come by themselves. No sides. No chips first. As long as you know that going in there, you will not be disapointed. Everything is a la cart. The place is usualy pack and if you head in there after 7 on any night, be prepared to wait a bit, but now that your wait will not be in vain. Go for a 'rita and stay for a taco then stay some more for another 'rita.
(4)chris c.
Service was awesome-from the hostess who hooked us up with bar seats whike waiting on a table to James the bartender who celebrated his birthday by pouring the whole bar his own shot concoction known appropriately as 'Unicorn Tears'. Awesome. Food tasted great but 'must gets' include the Black and Green margarita, the corn on the cob, and fruit guacamole with banana chips. Four of us ate till we were stuffed and drank heavily for under $100! I'll be coming back fo sho
(4)Liz M.
Setting: group of six girls out for girls night Food: AMAZING!!! Absolutely loved everything I tried. We tried the traditional, rojo, and special guacamoles. All were very tasty. My personal favorite was the traditional, but others at the table really enjoyed the rojo. For dinner I had a barbacoa, tinga, and cochinita taco. I LOVED all of them! Each one had a very distinct flavor, and a lot of it! SOOO GOOD! As a table we also ordered two orders of the corn on the cob (each one comes with three pieces). As we all bit into the corn, the table had a unanimous "MMMMMM." It was pretty funny. So good. I really just can't get over how excellent the food was. So much flavor. Not greasy, not oily. Drink: We all had red sangria, as it was the special that day- $5. Yum! Service: Great. Our server was friendly, very patient, and helpful. Gave us some great recommendations. Sometimes a big group can be so disorganized with ordering etc, but he was patient and never seemed upset. FYI: everything comes out as it's made. So remember what you ordered! Would I be back? I can't wait to go back!
(5)Mark S.
Food Taste - 5 stars Favorite was the Al Pastor Chicken Tacos and Ceviche Tilapia -1 star for charging for each tiny cup of salsa -1 star for charging $6 for a dos equis DRAFT Overall, great service, great food, but the cost is too high for what you get. I really like the concept here though
(3)Diane H.
I was craving tacos so I came here for take out on my way home. I by passed the takeout window and went inside to order. The staff was friendly, but not overly so. I ordered the ceviche, barbacoa, and cochinita tacos. The ceviche was very light and good. The actual taco was a hard shell and a bit overcooked for my taste, so I just ate half like an open faced taco. The barbacoa had great flavor (may be my favorite - wish I had ordered two!). The cochinita was good and a bit spicy which I like. I also got a traditional guac and like the touch of not just having tortilla chips, but also plantain and malanga chips which is different. I will definitely be back and probably for late night too.
(3)Kerra C.
Delish! A lot like Big Star. Smaller more intimate.
(4)Vanessa C.
I LOVE this place. I have yet to have a bad experience here. I've been here a few times for dinner, both on weekends and weeknights. It has been getting steadily busier, but if you don't want to wait for a table you can always sit at the bar to order, which is what I usually do. Their margs and guac are great (love the chips too). They have delicious tacos, and they're just the right size. The fish taco was not my fave, but the chicken and barbacoa are delicious. Would absolutely recommend this place!
(5)Claire H.
If there was a creator of an artisan Taco, Taco Joint is the place to go! They have a wide variety taco selections with an amazing array of tequillas in this cute & quaint restaurant. I went here with my gal pal on a work date, and we were interested in trying it out. We both got a platter of tacos, but our favorite was the barbacoa chicken. The really nice thing was that water was on the table and we never had to wait or be thirsty during our meal. We didn't feel the mexican aftermath like most places, (babareeba) and was able to back to work with a full but not stuffed belly! FOOD: SPICY AND FUN ATMOSPHERE: GREAT SERVICE: EXPECTED FROM A TACO PLACE OVERALL: FUN WORK LUNCH PLACE
(4)Lala S.
Taco Joint is a pretty cool joint. It's too bad that they lack windows so the back part of the restaurant is a little dark. It has an old saloon feel which is pretty cool. I feel like I'm on an old movie set when I'm in there. But enough about the decor, let's talk about the food and service: Food: We ordered a nice sampler of a few different types of tacos. My favorite was the Cochinita! It was nice and flavorful. I loved the pickled red onions spike with habenero! We also tried the Ceviche Taco which was my second favorite. The Barbacoa taco was pretty good, too. I didn't care too much for Birria which was a lamb taco. And surprisingly, my least favorite was the Duck Carnitas taco. It was just lacking and tasted very gamey, almost foul. It was too bad they were out of the Al Pastor, it sounded tasty. Drinks: Our drinks were really good. I started off with a really good margarita which was only $5! We tried the black and green and it was seriously one of the best drinks I've had in a long time. Who would have thunk it? A frozen margarita with a negro modelo float. yum! Service: Our waiter was OK. Glad that he pointed out that the original margarita was on special when I almost ordered the organic margarita.
(4)Amanda K.
The Taco Joint is nestled just blocks away from my office, and I am so glad to have finally discovered its delights! The atmosphere was warm and inviting on a chilly winter day, and the lighting perfectly low. Thank goodness I saw no t.v. to distract from the enjoyments of dining. We're not able to eat gluten or dairy and had a very easy time navigating the menu. We're both likewise very picky about eating meat only when we have guarantees that it's been humanely raised locally and were very warmly reassured in person by the manager himself to the care they taken in sourcing. My husband and I were treated last night to their corn, plantain and malanga chips with guacamole that were delicious and all made that very day - freshness that was palatable. We both hungrily and happily ate ceviche tacos. My husband enjoyed the Al Pastor taco and I was impressed by the richness of well-spiced flavor in the Barbacoa. We'll happily return, and look forward to spreading the word. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Michael M.
This place is fine, but it's not really anything special. Their margaritas are good, but not any better than other quality margaritas that are easy to find. Service seemed a bit odd, and inconsistently timed. They use El Ranchero chips (same ones you can get at the grocery store), which are wonderful for home use but a little disappointing to get in a Mexican restaurant. Good, flavorful taco fillings, but overall I felt like the tacos were missing something. They were fine, authentic-style tacos, but there are better options if that's what you're going for. If you are going for more of a full-service Mexican restaurant atmosphere, Taco Joint comes off as a bit bare-bones. I might go back here if I were in the area and wanted tacos, but it's not something I would travel for or make a point of visiting.
(3)Janie C.
I had been eying the Taco Joint since it came into the neighborhood, so one day when I had to kill some time, I stopped in and ordered two tacos to go. I got the Tinga and the Carnitas tacos. The Tinga is marinated shredded chicken garnished with red cabbage and "guaca-salsa". The chicken was well flavored, but nothing special. The cabbage is a nice addition, giving it texture and freshness...reminds me a bit of fish tacos but with chicken. I think the guac really turned this good taco into a great taco. But I am so very fond of avocados, I think this might be a biased review. The Carnitas is crispy duck confit garnished with cilantro & onion and ancho chile salsa. Carnitas is normally one of my favorites (if a restaurant has it, I order it) but this was a bit disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it was a decently solid taco, but it wasn't fantastic. It was super cheap, only 5 bucks. It was quick, I probably only waited 5 minutes. Staff was really nice and answered any questions I had about the menu. I need to try some more things before I really decide. I did see they have elotes on the menu...mmmm. I want to go back, but I'm not in a big hurry.
(4)Lucialin D.
I recently had a small party for about 15 people and had taco joint provide the food. I ordered two types of tacos and two sides (-2 selections being Cochinita Pibil and Tinga de Polla, 2 sides being rice and black beans). I ordered enough for 15 head count and had tons of leftovers and it was absolutely delicious. They boxed it all up for pickup so it stayed super hot and even carried to to my place even though I did not pay for delivery. (I do happen to live about 50 feet from the restaurant.) The pulled pork was my favorite, though the chicken was really good too. What I really loved was that all the salsas/toppings were on the side. In the past I have found their tacos way too spicy, but now I know to always order on the side and control the spice myself. The chips are soooo good and so much better than store bought. Excellent customer service and excellent food at a great value. $10 a head- I would have easily spent over $150 buying all these ingredients as well as spent tons of time cooking. Highly recommend it for catering or eat in!
(5)Kerry S.
Awesome food, ceviche tacos were amazing and the guacamole had a special twist too. Other than the waitress trying to sit us facing a wall in the hallway until we moved to the bar, this restaurant was a 10 in my book.
(5)Marget B.
This place is fantastic! If you want cheap, fast, creative and healthy Mexican food in a fun environment, Taco Joint is hard to beat.
(5)Elle H.
love this place. this folks is what authentic mexican street fare food should taste like. Taco Joint has a full menu of small maybe 5 bite craft tacos and a ton of fun steet food style appetizers. My absolute favorite are the elotes and flaututas. They have a taco of the day as well, which always makes it fun to see some menu variability each time you go. After eating here, you will laugh at any other fast food joints excuse for mexican food again. They have the most fresh and healthy ingredients in their tacos, and no oils or grease used. The tacos are all small in size so you can, and will, be able to try all the varieties. Basically everything on the menu is under 5 bucks as well. The prices for quality like this are so reasonable. Perfect place to get a healthy authentic mexican meal mid week, do a date night and enjoy their kick ass margaritas, or order a ton of tacos after a night of binge drinking. Taco Joint is the best--give it a go!
(5)Kristy M.
I was visiting Chicago recently and was taken to this great neighborhood find! I loved the staff and music and atmosphere!! The chicken tacos and guacamole will knock your socks off!! Can't wait to visit Chicago again so I can go back and try something new!
(5)Elaine L.
LOVE Taco Joint. They have the BEST guacamole. I haven't had anything there I haven't liked. Great service, very friendly, fast. The only negative is that the space is pretty small and can get loud when it gets pretty busy.
(4)Jen B.
Taco Joint! You look so sketchy but your tacos are TDF. And DTF. With my taste buds. Seriously, why train all the way to Big Star when you've got these bad boys sans the bearded hipsters trying to out-flannel you and snobby hostesses telling you it'll be an hour and a half? And Zocalo margies just begging to take you to Slam City?! TJs invites you in, sits you down in a timely fashion, and plies you with pork belly and tortilla chips and the most amazing guac, all the while telling you how beautiful you look in the dim light, with salsa on your chin and a tequila twinkle in your eye. Tacos for everyone!
(5)Nicole L.
So I was looking online at the menu to see what they had and I saw that some tacos were $2 each and others were $3. I figured that I may as well try something that would tickle my tummy fancy :) I chose 2 barbacoa tacos and 1 ceviche taco. When opened the to-go container, I saw the SMALLEST tacos I've ever seen!!!! 3 was definitely not enough and for the price of them, they should have been a bit bigger...3 stars because the tacos were mini but the barbacoa and ceviche were delish!!!
(3)Lauren P.
it's a friday night & i've got a groupon to burn. a friend gave me a tip that the wait time at taco joint might be kind of long, so me & my date headed there straight after work. we arrived around 7 and were quoted an hour & a half to an hour & 45 minutes wait time. ughhh. we decided to give it a wait & see if we could snag seats at the bar. i think everyone must have either just sat down or just arrived because no parties got called to be seated for at least 30 minutes after we got there. c'est la vie. while we waited, we ordered a few drinks - i got a prickly pear margarita (okay) and a grapefruit margarita (YUM) while my date got a black & green, followed by a house marg. they were pretty tasty & packed a punch. about 45 minutes into our wait, we were able to snag seats at the bar. with an hour left to wait to sit at a table that may end up being a counter top with stools, we decided to eat. my groupon deal got us 6 tacos & two house margaritas; we ordered the esquites guac to start. it was soooo bland & so very disappointing. even the chips were bland. it needed salt. lots of it. and where were the peppers, as advertised? all we could taste was a mushed up avocado with a few specs of corn. thankfully, the tacos were a lot better. they came out on red tortillas ("we're testing them before valentine's day" the bartender told us.) we tasted: ceviche (bf's favorite - only one in a hard shell. very fresh tasting.) al pastor (my favorite - sweet & spicy) duck confit (special of the day - very good) estilo baja (fried fish - pretty standard, solid) arabe (lebanese influenced pork loin - very acidic tasting & my least favorite) cochinita (pulled pork - too spicy for me!) overall, we were pretty happy with our choices. as for the argument as to what's better, big star or taco joint -- i have to say i'm in the big star camp. i'm not too interested in waiting and/or elbowing my way up to the bar again anytime soon, but i would take advantage of the take out window. i still miss minnies.
(3)Adam A.
I stopped in here to day while waiting for a friend. The place is decorated pretty sweet with a tile bar. I ordered the Cilantro mojito and the Guacamole both were excellent. I'm a huge cilantro fan so the mojito was a nice treat from the norm. I really can't wait to go back and try some tacos!
(5)Jason W.
4 stars for the food, although they need to double up on the tortillas for delivery. Mine had soaked through them by the time my food had arrived. -1 star for the delivery fee. Awesome to tip $3 and look at your receipt to see that there was a $5 delivery fee. That's absurd. $8 to get me my food.
(3)Jeff R.
What better idea than to get some tacos and margaritas in Lincoln Park after watching the Cubs miserably lose to the sox. Erica was craving some guacamole and margarita so we picked Taco Joint after hearing about it, having a drink deck coupon and not being close enough to Big Star at the time. The name is quite fitting for the concept because it is a very small and cozy taquerÃa with a large bar in the front and communal tables in back. Service is fast and friendly and pricing is appropriate ($2-4 tacos, $8 margs). I would not hail these as the best tacos in the city (and my preference is still big star or mercadito) but for the crowd looking for quick eats or late night taco craving, there's nothing else around Armitage/Halstead that can meet you needs as well. I wouldn't make a trip across town for Taco Joint but they do the trick with reliable and safe options at reasonable prices with good drinks. We each ordered the house "Zocalo" Margarita and really liked it for not being too sweet and easy to drink. The single guacamole was our favorite dish and could have ordered a double easily. The chips are funky because they include other vegetable chips besides corn. I asked for a side of hot salsa and it was true to form - very hot and quite tasty. The four tacos we tried were the ceviche, pancita, cochinita and tinga - with pancita the special of the day, braised pork belly. I thought all the tacos were fine but lacked nice flavors in the meat, even with nice toppings and sauce. The cochinita or tinga (chicken) were my favorites when hot sauce is included. There are other items on the menu that look fun to try like tortas, gorditas and antojitos. Again, it's a nice and fun spot in the middle of LP for quick meals or late night cravings. Good drinks and decent food at reasonable prices.
(3)Candice R.
Everyone else seems to love this place, and sure, I can see why. Buuuuut, I like to rate restaurants on their food and drink mostly. We had the barbacoa taco, ceviche taco, taco al pastor, and rajas taco. We also had house margaritas. The margarita's were great. Nothing was bad, but it was all mediocre. The ceviche was good, but it didn't beat my fish tacos from a Self magazine recipe. The rajas and barbacoa were ok too, but neither were exceptionally flavorful. The taco al pastor was made with chicken. Funny, but I thought that tacos al pastor, by definition, are pork tacos. That aside, it was good. But not delicious. If I were rating only on the food, I would give it a two. It's an ok meal, but it doesn't make me want to come back, and it's not craveable either. But, the staff was nice, so I bumped them up a star.
(3)Tanya G.
Love this place! Just opened up very close to my work. Wasn't sure about it at first, assumed it was another fast food mexican restaurant.. It's actually a really nice venue. Nice bar right when you walk in that has a great selection. Staff is really nice and very informative. And they also great seating, really like the atmosphere. Their tacos are amazing! Seriously. You can't go wrong with any of them. They are so flavorful and just taste so fresh. Also so affordable. And I really liked their guacamole. Also tried a mango margarita and it was great. Quality food and even drinks, can't go wrong :)
(5)Charlotte T.
Husband and I dropped by last Friday to take advantage of a Groupon we had. It was really packed up front and I was afraid there would be a wait, but turns out they could seat us right away! We were seated at the bar table right outside the dishwashing room which was a little noisy and distracting. The bar stools faced the wall, so it was awkward to eat and look at each other at the same time! We ordered 2 guacs: the original and the one with corn. I preferred the sweetness of the corn one, but my husband liked the other. That was too spicy for me. We had too much chips left at the end and I would have preferred more of the taro chips. We also ordered an assortment of tacos. My favorite of the night was the al pastor. It was the best of them all, but I thought they were just OK. I prefer going to the local taqueria type places, but I know this is not the same thing. Also ordered the chorizo huarache which was not bad too. Not overly greasy, good ratio of chorizo and potatoes. Would I go again? Maybe if I didn't want to drive and I had a craving for tacos!
(3)Heidi P.
Great drinks, tacos and guacamole. The service is outstanding. I went once with a friend and sat at the bar. We asked the bartender for his suggestions and he went as far as telling us which order to eat the tacos to make the most of the flavors. Then I went again with my family. The waitress got two grumpy boys "cocktails" and had there kid friendly tacos out in a flash. Love that we have a new delicious place to walk to in the hood. Yay Taco Joint! PS. They have a taco pick up window in case you walking your dog and are jonesing for a cochinita. Brilliant!
(4)Mary M.
So good! Love the chorizo con papas taco! The refried beans are made with black beans and it is a great switch from the normal. All of the tacos have a unique twist and are so delicious! Really cool vibe inside too. It is cold in the back room, however.
(5)Victor R.
Great tacos, that are easy on the wallet! Try the guac trio and the margaritas.
(4)John M.
The service was extremely professional as well as extremely helpful. We order drinks and they were served to us quite quickly. Our waitress was professional checking on our progress periodically throughout our stay. The food was excellently executed and one could expect to taste what one saw on the plate rather than be overwhelmed by the immense amount of ingredients. Overall I would give this experience as so far the best Mexican restaurant I have been to in years
(5)Tom W.
Very good food and fast service. A find, and well worth the trip!
(4)Anna V.
If a dive cantina were a little nicer it would look like this. Wicker Park can be a PITA and I like the alternative at Taco Joint. Reasons it's good: 1) it is literally a narrow hallway. For some reason this is really nice and reminds me of actual holes in the wall I went to when I lived in... the suburbs, where we really are low-rent enough to have places like that. This place jams on Saturday. They don't take reservations but you can call ahead. Unlike Big Star, getting a table here is a feasible reality. I like to sit while I eat so this is a bonus. 2) tacos are UNREAL if you order braised meats, and cheap. Pork belly forever (except only on Saturdays, the only day they carry it). The pozole marinated pork for Sunday is fantastic. So is the cochinita. Notice a pattern? These people totally know how to work with pork. Barbacoa is another good one. My friend likes the tempura fish, but he's from New Jersey, and apparently fish tacos are a thing I'm unfamiliar with. What they're missing is a really good picadillo taco. Also, none of these tacos really have cheese. They do make good tortillas. 3) great margaritas. Really, really good. Herradura reposado. Don't ask, pay $2 extra, get it done right. I will go here all the time. Good Mexican or Mexican-like food somewhere other than a) Big Star or b) next to a check-cashing place can be hard to find in this town, so it's nice to know I am only a train ride away from braised spicy meat at any time.
(5)Sean C.
These tacos were perfect! I tried 3 different ones (Barbacoa, Tinga and Arabe) and they each had their own unique flavors. I have eaten a lot of tacos over my lifetime and this ranks in my top 3 of all time!
(5)Laura B.
Ehh. I wanted more flavor from this cute taco joint. Love the ambiance though.
(3)Jason G.
DYNAMITE TACOS! Estio Baja and Tinga are my favorites, but pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu! Tacos range from $2-$4, and generally 3 fill you up. Don't forget to order some homemade guac! Excellent selection of tequila as well!
(5)Lauralee O.
Great atmosphere. Excellent prices. The crab cake taco (Monday's special) was delicious. The cochinita was less impressive, but great for the spicy food lover. Service was swift and friendly. Would live to come here for a casual dinner and margarita with friends.
(4)Timothy G.
Its hard to believe there are not more good mexican places in the downtown/lincoln park areas, as XOCO is about the only other good place in the city besides Mercandito, though thats more a formal dining out bar scene. I have been to TJ now about 6 times, and have tried just about everything on the menu, all of it is top notch, high quality, fresh, well flavored and so good. How people can go to a dump like Blue Agave and think thats Mexican is beyond me. Even Chipotle is better than Blue Agave on all levels. Anyway, TJ is the bomb, enjoy it.
(5)DeaconMSA W.
Food - It is not traditional Mexican by any means. It is more modern with a distinctive taste. You need to try each taco to decide what you like. Although this is rather obvious, you'll like some, and you will not like some. But, each is unique and worth trying. The guacamole and chips (some regular, banana and vegetable) are very good. Service - I was there the first week they opened, so everything was smooth sailing... Atmosphere - it looks like they about gutted the place and invested heavily in remodeling. Have to say, it works well, especially when one considers the natural restrictions of the space. Final recommendation - go stuff your face with a few tacos.
(4)Jill S.
Taco Joint! 2 blocks from where I live! It doesn't seem fair yet to give a full review since I did take-out tonight... but I'm going to tell you about it anywho. -Guac comes in 3 different sizes, with 3 different kinds of chips. I tried the 'Uno' portion Rojo (their spiciest) and a bag full of tortilla, plantain, and who knows what other kind, of chips. I'm hooked. -Tacos are small and authentic. And they are packed with meat. The duck was fine, but the shredded, marinated chicken really wowed me. Can't wait to try the other 6. Well, maybe only 5, because vegetarian dinners bore me. -Had a 'snacks' portion to the menu that included flautas and corn. Like, on the cob. -Full bar. -Tax is included in all things on the menu. That's right, so that means a $3 taco is really 3 dollars. I must say, there is a certain other neighborhood Mexican cantina that might be seeing less of my business. Just can't beat a quick, cheap, good taco (I'm from Elgin). Did I mention this place is open til at least 2am on both Friday and Saturday nights?! Watch out belly.
(5)amar r.
I've been looking around for a taco place that specializes in a variety dishes. big star used to be good. now it's too packed and orders are rushed. taco flaco is marginal quality. i found this place on yelp and checked it out. the front gives the impression of being small inside, but it stretches way back. seating is mostly available at the bar in the front room. it's a casual environment but they pay attention to the details with nice silver ware, plates, furnishings. very clean, simple. the bartender was prompt and attentive. they offer 9 different tacos (i tried 5) and also offer other dishes. i'm not sure how big those are but mostly, this is a place for a quick bite in small portions with no detail spared all the tacos i had were excellent. the duck, braised pork, tilapia, etc. And the portion size and cost were just right as well, avg between $2 - $3 per taco. And the different type of sauces all have a nice kick, flavor. Service was quick, as it took about 5 minutes to make a taco, but everything was fresh. great beer selection too, focusing on mexican spirits. i'll be back to try their other tacos and offerings. if you're into authentic taco's with variety, give this place a go
(5)Amber n.
Stopped in once for lunch after spotting it across the street and my husband and I were hooked from there on. Very affordable and great atmosphere.
(5)Sean I.
Excellent food and excellent people. Go in any time you like and order anything off the menu, and you will be satisfied. I have been in a hunt for Al Pastor perfection lately, and they do a great Al Pastor. I will keep going back.
(5)Katie R.
For the price and convenience (late night hours), this place is awesome! It's fun, great food with a changing menu, and they offer take-out, too. Excellent bartenders!!! Definitely try the melted cheese with chorizo (I forgot what it's called)- it's amazing!
(5)Erin A.
I can't believe it took me so long to check out Taco Joint and I can't wait to have it again. I had my hair cut next door and ordered a late lunch to go. They were nice enough to make the Tinga Taco as a Torta. This should be on the menu!!! I also had the rioja guacamole, very tasty. I look forward to dining in at Taco Joint and having one of the drinks the bartender was mixing.
(5)Michelle D.
Awesome food!! Service was a little slow, only becuase they are usually understaffed and very busy since the food rocks!! A few too many strollers in the place for my taste, but what do you expect in that neighborhood? Margaritas rock as well - all for a good price. They have weekly specials, too - so check it out and go early to beat the crowds.
(4)Heather S.
awesome food and killer margaritas! i suggest getting a pitcher if you have 3+ more people. there is usually a 30 minute wait - i also suggest going to the bar next door because they will call you when your table is ready
(4)erika s.
although i was sad to see minnies gone, this place is a good replacement if there had to be one. it seems like a similar concept in that you can get small things (tacos) or larger things (tortas/huaraches). the have an alcohol license and are rumored to have good margaritas, although i skipped this round. we tried: *birria taco--lamb & pork stew with a spicy cascabel-morita salsa--very good *carnitas taco--crispy duck confit ganished with cilantro and onion and ancho chile salsa. i wouldn't get this again. it wasn't crispy and the taste was too gamey or something. *barbacoa taco--braised beef brisket garnished with cilantro and onions and roasted red jalpeno salsa. not usually something i would order but the salsa sounded good. i am not a brisket fan generally, but man this was excellent. i highly recommend *tinga taco-marinated shredded chicken garnished with red cabbage and guaca-salsa. this was hands down my favorite. it was super delicious, but i'm glad i tried the carnitas instead of getting two of these. *guacamole of the day--very good--would definitely recommend specifiying how much you want--i realize now this comes in servings. if we did get a serving for 2 (there were a ton of tortilla chips and plaintain chips, then they should step up the portion of the guac, if not, my bad for not ordering more. this place is cheap for the hood, fast and i'm imagining even more amazing after a beer or seven on a hot summer night. i will definitely go back. oh--and they have a walk-up carryout window. fantastic!
(4)Esther A.
Awesome margaritas and tacos. Perfect for a Friday night meal with friends. Small bar and restaurant though. Get there earlier or plan on waiting at least 30 minutes for a table, which isn't too bad on a Friday night in Lincoln Park.
(4)Ralph S.
A great neighborhood place with delicious, imaginative food and a fun environment. We love the ceviche tacos, duck confit tacos, great chips and guacamole. Many choices of different guacamoles. The margaritas are yummy (if a big strong). Individual taco portions make it easy to order and eat just the right amount, without needing a to-go box or spending extra money. Prices are very reasonable for the unusual taco choices. Luckily we live walking distance, because parking can be a real challenge. Try it - you won't go wrong.
(5)Jen R.
I've been here more times than I would like to admit since it's opened. I love this place. I've now tried all of the tacos, but my favorites have to be the fajita, the pastor and barbacoa. The fajita one comes on a flour tortilla, which I prefer to corn tortillas and the meat is always done really well. The cochinita (pulled pork) one was a little weird, and I've had it a few different times and it always seems to vary in spiciness, from "not too bad" to "i need water now!". This place is extremely fast (you can get to-go in less than 10 minutes). On the weekends, there can be a hefty wait, but if you ask the hostess, they will take your phone number and you can go across the street or next door and grab a drink while you wait (huge plus in my book because the bar here gets really crowded). Make sure to try all of the guacs as well. The sweet plantains mixed in with the chips threw me for a loop the first time, but now I look forward to it.
(5)Meg E.
this is a tough space to make work. clearly minnies (RIP) couldnt make it work there after being there for awhile because the layout is awkward. however, taco joint has done a great job. the tacos are cheap, the tequila selection is vast, and the owners are zocalo so they know a thing or two. big star may have a patio but this food is just as good if youre on the east side.
(4)d b.
The joint has a couple of great taco dishes and I've tried them all twice. The ceviche and one of the chicken ones stand out. The others were just ok. Definitely try the guacs especially if they have the crab. The 5 dollar beer and a shot special are a bargain and tasty. As the name implies it's a simple place and so one has to grade on a curve. Btw, for a higher end taco, head to wicker park.
(4)Jenn T.
I think the tacos are amazing. We tried quite 5 different ones and we loved each of them. We also had the guac special and my boyfriend who does not like guac LOVED IT! This place is well worth going back too.
(5)Megan S.
I got the Al Pastor, Barbacoa, and the special of the day which had Tilapia. Al Pastor was not bad. But the Tilapia and Barbacoa tasted off. It was clear to me that Taco Joint does not use fresh, high qualify ingredients. It was disappointing.
(2)Ryan M.
1 star for having mexican beer on tap. this place has to be the worst taco place i have ever eaten at. i got the steak torta. absolute worst i have ever had. the only ingredients it had on it was steak tomatoes and some salsa i think. tasted horrible. i also had some guacamole and tried the queso fendido. both were sub par. there was not enough queso in the fendido, and the guac was BAD! there are about 15 other way better places to get a taco and guac within 1 mile.
(1)Patrick K.
This place has good food, good servers, but the hostess screwed up our approximate wait time. We were told 20min and stood around for an hour and twenty minutes.
(2)Sean D.
Pretty good, the drink flight is awesome. Bit of a wait on a weekend brunch but no big deal.
(4)Andrew B.
This place was friggen' great. We had a groupon that included 2 margaritas and 6 tacos. We promptly ordered 2 margaritas from our server, and then decided that we would order an appetizer and some gauc, and then let our server just pick our tacos for us. Turns out that was a great idea, cuz our server Max was the best. Not only did he know what he was talking about, he took the time to choose our tacos carefully...starting us with something mild, moving on to something(s) spicy, and finishing with an al pastor taco that had the sweet flavor of pineapple. He even took the extra step to course them out for us, rather than just ordering them all at once and throwing 6 tacos our way on a platter. Almost felt like we were at a fine dining joint, even though we were in shorts and t shirts and looking very much not fine dining appropriate. The food holds up on its own...super good, super flavorful. But Max is the man and made the dinner awesome!
(5)Valerie K.
They had really good food and a nice atmosphere at really great prices. It's a sit-down but, you order what you want from a sheet of paper. The presentation was really nice. Most tacos are $2 (although 1/2 to 2/3 the size of a "regular" size taco); guacamole comes in different sizes/types. I had the ceviche taco & the rajas taco - both were really good but the rajas taco was REALLY good. Husband had a beef and steak taco - he didn't care for the beef but only because of the texture - he doesn't like any pulled or shredded meat (weird I know). He did say the steak one was really good. We ordered chips & guacamole and chips & salsa - good. Their chips are a variety of 3 chips. Drinks are pretty average prices -$7-$10 for a margarita. I had the house margarita and it was good. They also offer 3 kids items - not on the menu - son had cheese quesada - it was actually 2 6" ones. I think this is going to become a once or twice a week habit.
(5)Rajini J.
The best little taco place in Chicago! The portions are small but packed with great flavor and taste. They change their menu periodically and so you get to try new tacos frequently. The Soy Chorizo and Sweet Corn N Truffle are superb if you crave something vegetarian. The Mole-Q Roasted Pork and Steak MOnterrey are quite good as well. And their house margarita is one of the best in town!! Overall,a great place to dine for some great tasting creative tacos in the city. And the service is excellent as well. Overall, a great dining experience!!
(5)Andre W.
Pretty good tacos here and they are really inexpensive as they run in between $2-$3. The Al Pastor, Barbacoa and Cochinita are standouts. Guacamole is outstanding which comes with plantain chips and corn chips. The Tropical Margarita is what should be consumed for your drinking pleasure as it has a great taste and will give you a nice buzz. The white sangria was pretty weak as it seemed as if no effort was put into making it...tasted very bland. The service seems to be ho-hum depending on who you get behind the bar. The two times I have been I sat @ the bar because its right in the front where you can watch TV and look out of the window. The dining area is on the side and way in the back of the restaurant as it looks pretty dim and sleepy. They have daily specials that are pretty good as well.
(3)P J.
I wasn't impressed by this place. I don't like that I couldn't request simple toppings on my tacos like lettuce and tomato. call me picky but the food didn't seem authentic either. the one store is for the low prices
(1)Kevin M.
Solid upscale foodie-taco place. Wait was long on a Friday night but servers and hostesses were accommodating. Not too pricey and awesome $5 Beer+Shot deal, which was good to start wetting the beak.
(4)Mike D.
Taco joints name is spot on. It is just a solid, well, Mexican taco joint. I work across the street so I come here often on my breaks. The variety of tacos are definitely the main attraction, but the drink menu is also good for the typical Mexican flair. Don't forget to ask about the 'Aguas frescas' aka refreshing fruit juices. If you live in the area it is a place worth checking out for casual dining or drinks.
(4)Kerry C.
I've been here twice and crave it on a regular basis. Most recently, I got a blood orange margarita, the trio of guacamole (always ask what the guac of the day is--it can really surprise you!), two tacos (the Al Pastor and the Baja), and the fried plantains. The Al Pastor is the best taco I have tried. The Baja was only okay, but it was still pretty good and a good vegetarian option. And the plantains, I can't sing their praises enough. Amazing. I know fried plantains aren't hard to do right, but they're the perfect balance--not too fried but not soggy.
(5)Alejandra V.
I reallllly enjoyed this place. It took me a second to figure out the menu, but our server was great at clearing up my confusion. Order one taco at a time and tell them what you like. Our server was very well versed and helped my husband and I choose very different selections that fit our very different tastes. Bartender Marissa rocks. She recommended the hibiscus margarita which was amaaaazing! She clearly loves her job and the taco joint, which felt contagious :-) This is not grandma's taco joint. This is a try-something-new taco joint. Do not come here looking for dull. Don't expect salt and salsa as your only spice. They are all about creative flavors and combinations. I had one taco at a time so that I could sample and explore. I think that's the way to go. They don't come with a plat full of side you're not going to eat. Just an awesome taco! I will for sure be back!
(5)Rhoda G.
This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago. I always order guacamole and 3 tacos. One of those tacos is usually the taco of the day. The wait can be long at night especially on Fridays and Saturdays. I haven't tried their sopes or tortas yet because their tacos are so good! If I'm in the area and want a quick meal, this is my go-to spot. You can find a spot at the bar and once you place your order, it comes out pretty fast
(4)Raph V.
So I went here randonly with my wife after passing by this place so many times and I have to say..... The place looks great and the food is good, but I probably would never go here again unless someone invites me for a drink here. It's a little over priced but this is what you get for the location. They had a flyer saying that if you tag and follow them on Instagram you'll get a FREE Chips and Guac which I did but no one came by and offered it throughout our entire time there. It's sad to say that there really is NO good Taco place in the City. So if you looking for Taco's don't go to this place, but if you looking to get your drink on and which some tv with Friends then this place isn't too bad.
(2)Michael J.
This location is 100 times better than the Ontario location, this is by far the best location. I'm 100% satisfied and the margaritas are great, as well! If you have a groupon go and select this location!
(4)Justin T.
Pretty horrible. Full disclosure, I live in Austin, TX - basically the taco Mecca of the world. These tacos. Boring. Predictable. Greasy. Not a great combination, I'd much rather hit up a dirty late night burrito place. At least I'd get interesting flavors, snnnnnnnnnnnoooooooozzzzeeeee.
(2)Neamen L.
The overall food was good. It was Tuesday so they had their Tuesday taco special. The food came out quick, however, it was room temperature. The guac was very good, however, I was not in love with the chips as I'm more of a fan of a softer corn tortilla chip. Their chips were a bit hard. The staff was nice and attentive as well. I'd come back for the tacos.
(3)Shivali D.
Had to wait a bit but the hostess was nice enough to give us a table that cleared up against the wall. It wasn't our preference but we were all starving so we were really grateful for her offering that! As for the food, my company LOVED it. They thought it was very flavorful and unique. In fact they're still talking about it and we are half a week out so I'm really happy for them. As for me, I'm vegetarian. I expected all sorts of accommodation considering tacos are super easy to change around. Our host just wasn't very accommodating. I ended up getting something he suggested and absolutely did not like it, I let him know and also mentioned that I really wanted tacos. And so he was nice enough to offer me an off the menu item which ended up being OK. Not great. I was really excited to try this place but unfortunately the lack of accommodation was very disappointing for me. I definitely felt left out for being a vegetarian. Margs were great and different! Would definitely try another one. My party really really enjoyed themselves and so I Taco Joint gets 3 stars of love from me.
(3)Avery A.
Extensive and fantastic drink selection, terrific and delicious shareable portions, and a great atmosphere. One of my go to spots for friends, family, and dates.
(5)Arelys G.
This is an updated review of Taco Joint ... Upon two recent visits with my boyfriend to TJ, we have noticed that the tacos have seriously reduced in size! They are literally like appetizer size now opposed to how they used to be... I'm sure other reviewers would agree. Just last night we both agreed that the appetizers themselves are bigger than the tacos! How about that? We even got our food in reverse order: Tacos first, then apps. We ordered the queso fundido and flautas which the flautas come with a delicious green sauce! This however does not change how I feel about Taco Joint in general. It is like my go to place when I want some good food, great drinks and have a good time. I have also discovered Strawberry flavored margaritas which are to die for! So yummy! :)
(5)Susan B.
Ehh, I dunno...it was good, but not that good. I love Mexican food but I think I prefer more authentic places than ones like this. Everything is a la carte...even chips and salsa (fail in our eyes...places that serve Mexican food should at least offer chips & salsa on the house). We both got 3 tacos (I got Al Pastor, Enchilada and I think the third was Barbacoa...shows how memorable the experience was). I also got a side of poblano rice. When our food came out I was surprised how small the portion of rice was....maybe 3 spoonfuls? The tacos were good but nothing super memorable or crave worthy that I have to stop by again. I've been wanting to try this place for a while but I won't be back.
(2)Hitomi A.
Excellent tacos!! Creative, pretty, taste amazing!!! I like the chips with plantains & taro.
(4)Andrea R.
I know my guac. In fact, I know it so well that i took a few bites and asked the waiter if Taco Joint just happened to be Zocalo's little sister. And I was right! Like I said...I know my guac. Taco Joint (like big sis Zocalo) makes some tasty guac and serves it with plantain chips, which I may like even better than regular chips. And in addition to good guac they make some tasty tacos. I was feeling particularly hungry on my visit to Taco Joint so went with 3, but if you're not famished 2 tacos and a guac app should be sufficient. The ceviche taco was uh-mazing, the shrimp taco was good and the chicken taco was so-so. The service was fast and the price was right. I was a frequent Zocalo visitor, especially since it was just down the street from my old condo, and am also a fan of it's more casual sis.
(4)Joseph D.
Went here with my wife and another couple and sat at the bar not knowing what to expect. Man this place is gooooood! OK so admittedly I only got tacos but this aren't the tacos of yesteryear with the crunchy shells you get in a box and fill with some kinda of unidentifiable meat. Each of the 4 tacos I got were definitely hand made and each one was more interesting than the next. Shrimp, pull pork, beef, you name it - there is a taco for everyone. And at $10 for a plate of 4 (is was a Tuesday special) it was quite a bargain. Portion sizes were good and mentioned, very tasty. We also got some red and green guacamole. Who knew guac could be red but it was and again it was terrific. Served with an interesting assortment of banana chips and other assorted crunchies including tortilla chips of course. Nice selection of beers and tequilas so always good to wash the tacos down with a refreshing beverage. Suggestion would be go early as this place is on the small side and I could see how it could get super crowded. As it is summer the crowd was probably smaller than usual so again, factor that in if school is in session. I will definitely return to this place for the tacos again soon.
(5)S L.
Taco Joint was the perfect meal for our travel-themed wedding reception. For just $15 per person, we had a buffet with three kinds of tacos, rice, beans, chips, and salsa. There was a moderate additional fee for servers, which was well worth it because they did all the set up and clean up - even boxing up leftovers for us to take home! If you're looking for a non-traditional but delicious alternative to traditional wedding food, Taco Joint was a fun and affordable option, and our guests raved about the quality. The menu is gluten-free and vegetarian/vegan friendly, and even my 94 year old grandma loved the mushroom taco:)
(5)Lexi H.
I hated it here. I had a steak taco (3.50) and the chips and dip (2.00). First of all my steak taco was on the tiniest tortilla shell I ever saw then it was ONE thin slice of steak on there with a little lettuce WTF, u expect me to pay for this?? Then my chips came, the sauce was disgusting I think they made it with that dark hot sauce that i hate and the chips had plantains and some other random thing mixed in with it. So overall the portions where to small for the price, lacked flavor and was disgusting.
(1)Alissa T.
I've been here a couple times and have tried a variety of things: *Great guacs- love that it's served with tortilla, malanga, and plantain chips *Al Pastor and Camaron tacos were great---others were ehh *Zocalo Margarita was strong, but not too strong Wish there was another location further north
(4)Anthony M.
My first experience with the Taco Joint was at a Charity Event...the guys were serving up tacos for everyone and I was impressed at how good they were. Recently we decided to check out the location with a little help from the Groupon coupon from 12 to 2pm...I think we got 20 bucks for 10 bucks or something like that. We walked in at Noon and decided to sit at the bar. It was a warm and sunny day in May and the front window was open. The front window was so cool because it was on garage door hinges. I wanted to post a picture but I could not capture the beauty of this design. So it will live in my memory. The bartender was very nice and friendly...plus she did not give us any attitude when we told we had a groupon. I just hate that when you get attitude for even mentioning it. So she definitely got high marks in my book. We ordered a couple of beers. My only complaint was the menu said beers were 5 bucks and our Corona Light rang up at $5 and my Dos Equis Larger rang up at $6. I peaked at the menu and saw she served me Dos Equis in a can which was not even on the menu...it was actually listed under bottles. But I did not want to ruin our nice lunch over a buck...but just be warned this may happen to you even if you are the Most Interesting Man in the World! We decided to do a feast of tacos: We started with the Barbacoa taco which costs $3. It is a braised beef brisket garnished with cilantro & onion and roasted red jalapeno salsa. This one was our favorite...the meat and salsa were to die for. Next we moved on to the Arabe Taco which was also $3 and it was a grilled Puebla style Lebanese influenced taco with marinated pork loin, chipotle salsa and served on a Mexican style pita. I really liked this one too but my wife was not too impressed. It reminded me of a Mexican Gyro. It could have used a little crema to give it that Gyro feel but I see its potential. We decide to give veggies a try with the Rajas Taco for $2. It was strips of Poblano peppers and onions, sauteed with creamy tomatillo salsa and served over a black bean spread. I thought it was very tasty. I loved the roasted poblano peppers. And finally the Tinga Taco for $2 It was marinated shredded chicken garnished with red cabbage and "guaca-salsa". My wife really liked this one. I thought it was okay and was probably my least favorite. I loved that this place has ala carte tacos and does not try to force beans and rice on me as a customer. I am all about the tacos. I loved there unique and different take on the traditional taco. I wanted to order more and that is the beauty of this place you can do it if you want to! This place had a great vibe to it. I also noticed that they had a walk up window which probably gets crazy after people in the area have been out drinking on the weekend. I really would not know becaue during my DePaul days this place did not exist but if it did I am sure I would have been a regular here.
(5)Jamie F.
Had three tacos and a margarita for under twenty bucks without compromising quality and flavor. The Ceviche and Aquacate tacos were standouts for me. Great selection of tequilas as well.
(5)Michael G.
Taco Joint is the best. If you don't agree, well, you're wrong.
(5)Tyler W.
Absolutely love this place. I could eat 100 Cochinita tacos in one sitting...though I recommend 3...and maybe branch out a little...
(5)Annie M.
When I moved to my new apartment, I was told by at least 3 people that I had to try Taco Joint. I'm a fan of tacos, so I of course obliged...and continue to do so at least once a month. I usually get orders to-go since my home is so close, but of course it's always better to eat it warm when they first come out (although the wait is a nightmare). My go-to-to-go taco orders usually vary between the Camaron (great sauce!), Raja (the only vegetarian taco on the menu...just creamy beany goodness), Civiche (hard shell), and the Baja. The only real complaint about the tacos is the corn tortilla. It'd be nice to have the option, but it's not a deal-breaker. If you're a strict flour-only taco eater, try the new taco place at Armitage and Sheffield (where Twisted Lizard used to be) But one it that I got recently that is really what gave Taco Joint the push from 3 to 4 starts: Get the Elotes!!! When my friend told me about this, I thought it sounded disgusting: corn on the cob with mayo and cheese. But seriously, I have been craving it ever since!
(4)Alex B.
Favorite place in the neighborhood. My wife and I love Mexican food, and this place has never let us down. Amazing and diverse array of tacos, excellent side dishes, and the mezcal margaritas are to die for. Could not recommend this place highly enough.
(5)Chelsea H.
We sat at the bar and watched the city go by while enjoying unique, delicious taco recipes! I had the Al Pastor and the Hongos. I recommend the fresh taste of the traditional guacamole, but my husband loved the smoky flavor of the Rio. You could spend less than $10 here and be full. And the staff was friendly and attentive!
(5)Kathleen O.
Taco joint is pretty dern tasty. They have a bunch of vegetarian options and a bunch of different kinds of guacamole which is pretty much unheard of. The service inside the joint is pretty slow, but the food makes up for that. I just wouldn't recommend going to Taco Joint if you are in a hurry. We've often ordered close to $100 as office lunches and have to send someone out to pick-up since they do not have a delivery option which is super sad. I would order much more frequently if Taco Joint had a delivery option!
(4)Kendrick W.
For me this is home. I live in Lincoln Park and it's my go to place. When it doubt, but you know you want some good food and a drink, Taco Joint is where it's at. It's tough to get a seat in the back, but if you're like me and don't mind eating and drinking at the bar (a far more enjoyable experience) then this is your place. The bar tenders knowledge of the numerous tequilas is impressive. In terms of the margaritas, you can't go wrong with the basic Zocalo, but if you're really ready for a treat try on one of their tropical margaritas. I recommend the hibiscus. Fabulous. The taco's are also great. The Cochinita brings some heat so be careful if you're not a spicy person. Last but not least the guacamole. Try it all. The Rojo is a personal favorite, but the traditional works as well!
(5)Kristen D.
The Al Pastor taco took first prize in my book. There was a 5 minute wait to sit in the back of the restaurant...on a Monday night! Awesome. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks first. Easily on of the most delicious drinks I've ever ordered from a restaurant, and I've been to a lot of restaurants. The tacos we ordered, in order of my preference: Al Pastor - Easily my favorite. Loved the sweet kick to it with the pineapples. Fajita - super salty, but good too. Ceviche - crispy taco is too crispy for me, and I think I expected a little more salsa mixed in with it. Still delicious. Barbacoa - we got this taco on accident. I'm not a huge fan of barbacoa, so that may be why I didn't enjoy it the most. I'm glad to have such easy access to this place, because it's really good. I first thought that it was a place that was a quick walk in and get your food, sort of like a chipotle. I am so happy to know that it's not and cannot wait to frequent this place this summer!
(4)Laura O.
I usually try to go to a new restaurant in the city every time I go out, so it says something that I've ordered Taco Joint twice in the past three weeks! I loved what I ordered on my first visit so much that I ordered it again the second time. Barbacoa taco and carne asada torta. Both were excellent, and I had leftovers. Some friends and I placed a pretty large order the other night. When it arrived, we noticed that a few tacos were missing. I called the restaurant and they had no problem delivering the forgotten food--in a snow storm and on New Years Eve, nonetheless! AND they threw in one of EACH of their dessert items! That's smart customer service. Very pleased and will be ordering again!
(5)Yotam B.
We had the business lunch deal. Guacamole or rice&beans + 2 tacos + margarita for $12. It's just unbelievable value for money. Super recommended!
(5)Greg M.
Make sure Sal is your waiter! He recommended the skinny organic margarita which was super tasty, and then the grapefruit margarita which was also super yummy. Overall great service and great food! I've been meaning to stop by here for a while, and today I finally went on a lazy Sunday. Great atmosphere, good music, and amazing food. The tilapia ceviche was AMAZING. I also had a chicken taco which was tiny but well worth it.
(5)Lauren S.
I love this place! Tacos are great. I always do the baja. Mr taco is amazing. We always get the queso fundido. YUM!!!! Servers and bartenders are nice. Fast service. Margaritas! The $20 margarita bottle on Mondays is a great deal. We come here once a week now. Favorite place in our neighborhood!
(5)Taylor P.
Really enjoyed the location and the restaurant vibe. Service was amazing and food was even better. Will be back many times. The Queso-taco was the Tuesday special and well worth the $4.
(5)Samantha T.
YUM is all I have to say. Great margaritas. Great tacos. Go there.
(5)Jordan P.
For my first night in Chicago, my buddies wanted to take me out somewhere fun. This modestly priced spot was POPPIN' and the line was out the door. Apparently, this is the case with nearly all downtown Chicago restaurants so, for future reference, make a reservation! Even with one, we had a little bit of a wait, but that was enjoyed with a few margaritas. For me, a Zocalo margarita with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice; served up on the rocks with a salt rim. They also had a spicy margarita with a bite to it, which was a crowd favorite. After getting a round of guac for the table (including a roja guacamole: Avocado with roasted tomatoes, roasted onion and roasted red jalapeno salsa) served with tortilla chips and plantain chips, we ogled the taco menu. So very many options!! I decided on three: This trio of tacos could not have delighted my senses more. Requiring no additional salsa or toppings (though I could've obtained some if I'd asked), and served on small, handmade tortillas (that were green? yup.), I managed to enjoy each taco more than the last. The fajita "taco of the night" was actually a little different from what I described (but that was the closest they had on the menu) and had some guacamole on it as well, but the queso blanco was creamy and flavorful and stole the show from the somewhat tough steak. That taco was tasty, but not my favorite. The duck confit taco was my first time ever tasting duck (I know, right?!) I'll admit, it was so juicy and the ancho chile salsa was the strongest flavor I got, so I couldn't tell you off the bat if I'm a duck convert. I guess I'll just have to go out and try more duck, eh? The MVT(aco) was, without question, the Cochinita. The pulled pork was so tender that my mouth felt like the tortilla was giving the fillings a tight embrace as I took a bite. The salsa was spicy and paired perfectly with possibly my favorite part of the taco: the pickled red onions. A latecomer to the meal was an alcoholic Horchata that I knew I wanted the moment I spotted it on the menu. Coming in at $10, this drink was actually more expensive than all the tacos combined (which were $3 each) but, in my opinion, if you have a chance to get horchata at a Mexican restaurant, you should do it. If you have the chance to add booze to that horchata, DO IT!! This meal was phenomenal, the atmosphere was exciting and social, and the horchata was one of the best I've ever had, boozy or not! And to walk out paying less than $25 for a meal in the city that tastes fresh and doesn't make you feel so stuffed you need to be rolled out... well that's a success in my book.
(5)Lexi P.
Just tried this place the other night on the recommendation of my boyfriend who had been there once before. I ordered 3 different tacos: the taco of the day (it was a Tuesday), a Baja chicken taco, and a fish taco. All 3 were amazing. The fish taco was probably the best I've ever had and was my favorite of the 3. The taco of the day was spicy but not too spicy. We also ordered fried plantains which were delicious and a churro donut which was heavenly. The donut had a lot of sugar and probably could have done with half the sugar on there and still tasted good. My boyfriend ordered the carne asada torts which was very good. Great flavor on the meat and the bread was really good too. I will definitely be eating here frequently!
(5)Thomas H.
Taco Joint gets me high... ...for delicious food. Reasonably priced, good variety. They'll throw out a special every now and then as well. It's pretty tight in terms of space, but a good place to have a casual dinner date.
(4)Elina S.
Okay, so I've been dying to try Taco Joint forever now since I'm obsessed with Mercadito and Big Star and wanted to find a nice mix in between, less casual than Big Star but less fancy than Mercadito. Well, I should have just opted out all together. I came here with my mom on a Monday afternoon for lunch since we were in the area and the place wasn't too busy, so we were able to get a table. The place is small, dark, almost a bit creepy since there weren't any windows in the main dining part. By the bar, you can get some sun light in. Anyways, I just didn't get a good vibe from this place from the start. Our server was nice, and that's where the two stars come in, but nice is about all he was. He wasn't overly helpful in deciding what to order so we were kind of on our own on this one, but everything that we ordered came out right. We started with their $5 fruta guacamole to start that comes with plantain chips and regular tortilla chips. Okay, the guacamole had no frutas in it, it was supposed to have mango, green apples, a habanera salsa, yeah all we could literally taste was mashed up avocados. Probably worst I ever had. The plantain chips were stale, seriously? Like from two nights ago, that's how stale they were. And the tortilla chips didn't taste home made since I buy that Mexican brand at the store sometimes, so major fail on that part. Oh and they were cold on top of being stale. Okay, on to the tacos, I'm sorry but they were just horrible. Everything tasted like it was a few days old, and we tried the carnitas which were gross, and looked like mush on a green tortilla, the cochinita, also gross, similar to the carnitas in the way it looked and tasted. The pastor was the least bad out of all of them with pineapple pico and grilled chicken, it actually had pieces of chicken unlike the others. My mom tried their Monday special Poc-chuc which tasted like it sounds, yucky. She also tried their vegetarian taco called the panela with mushrooms and cheese and supposedly some black bean salsa, which she didn't care for. Overall, pastor was the only decent one of the 6 different varieties we tried. Okay, I thought we would save the day by ordering some dessert since, come on, how can you mess up the dessert. So we got the flan of the day, which is the only thing that was fresh that day, but I hated it, it was plantain flan. I like regular flan and I like regular plantains, just not together in a weird mixture. I guess that one is to taste. So, I would probably never come back since there are so many better Mexican restaurants to my taste. And although our server was nice, not nice enough for us to come back anytime soon. Oh, and it wasn't cheap either. Generous sized tacos, but they add up quickly. Sorry, taco joint. At least I got you off my bucket list of Mexican places to try.
(2)Kelsie L.
I like this place. The grapefruit margaritas are delicious. I've always had good service here and their tacos are fine. Overall, a standard taco place. Great location!
(3)Emily B.
So good for delicious and quick eats! Definitely fun to go with friends. The service has never been bad and always timely. Couple of locations in Chicago, conveniently located! I love their margaritas
(5)Lauren F.
Hellooooo new favorite tacos! I've tried several menu items at Taco Joint and I'm pretty sure they can do no wrong! The Elotes are AMAZING! Grilled corn with yummy cotija cheese-I could just eat these and be perfectly happy. But of course, I tried more. The Guacamole Rojo is really flavorful, has a little spice, and I love the different types of chips that it comes with (corn, sweet plantain, and malanga). Then come the tacos. My favorites were the Ceviche and the Al Pastor...DE-licious! The Ceviche taco comes in a thick, crunchy shell that is just perfect! The Al Pastor is full of flavor and I love the pineapple pico on top! I've also tried the Duck Carnitas, Barbacoa, Cochinita, Camaron, and Estilo Baja tacos. All great, just not as great as the Ceviche and Al Pastor. I've only had take-out but I definitely want to dine-in so I can try some of their fun cocktails! Love me some Taco Joint!!
(5)A B.
We went last Sunday for lunch to use a groupon but we only wanted one of the two margaritas offered. Our waiter, Jeff, was not helpful in offering other options. We even asked if we could have a virgin margarita or an agua fresca instead but still be charged the full margarita price so we could use the groupon. Every answer was no. It was a completely frustrating experience and we wound up buying a margarita for the table next to us just so we could use it. I called the manager later that afternoon to explain what happened. She said an agua fresca should have been offered instead which we had asked about but Jeff said no. She said she would talk to him and call me back. It's now Friday and I still haven't received a call back from the management team. Overall a terrible experience. Unfortunately I will not be going back.
(1)Colleen C.
I NEED DELIVERY. MEXICAN DELIVERY. This is all that kept scrolling through my mind after battling air travel for 10+ hours and living without good Mexican food (and delivery, actually) for 30+ days. After clicking around Grubhub I came across Taco Joint and figured I'd give it a whirl. And, it was an AOK experience. AOK, indeed. First, the standout: the ceviche taco in a crispy shell. BY FAR the best thing that arrived. Fresh fish, flavorful, crunchy. I really dug it. Should've gotten 6 of them and called it a day. The others? Well, again...OK. they all came kind of melded together because of the delivery vessel. A bit sloppy, sort of soggy. Couldn't even really tell what was what, but somewhere in there was a barbacoa, carinitas and cochinita. At $2-3/each, they need to stand up to the test a bit better. These were average unlike their ceviche sister. The taco salad was fine, but pretty boring. A fresh salad with steak. At around $12, again...I felt a bit lacking for the price point. Sides: guac, chips and black beans. All...fine. Delivery took 1h20m on a Friday night. I expected the wait time at this hour, but just be warned. It's not going to be quick... Taco Joint, ya did me OK...but not like, amazing. Ok? That's why the 3-stars. That's why. But, if anyone brings me here, I'll get that ceviche taco x 3 and be pretty darn happy.
(3)Katie K.
This is a very solid taco joint. I really enjoyed the food. I think the drinks were reasonably priced and delicious. I couldn't tell if they were strong, but they tasted good. I really like the bean dip. I also enjoyed the fish taco. The Guacamole was outstanding!! I would recommend giving this place a shot. I think that you won't be disappointed. It's not too pricey either. We didn't have to wait very long to get a table on a weeknight. Fun times!
(4)Natalie F.
This place is great if you want to either grab a quick bite or hang and have a longer meal with a friend. They have tacos, tortas and starters. The ambient is mellow and the alcohol selection is tequila oriented although they also have beer and aguas frescas. I'll definitely come again! The only thing I didn't like was the sweet corn (I've had it many times growing up) was not balanced in flavor like the other things I ordered. It had too much mayo!
(4)James L.
Walking towards the car and we bumped into this place. Decided to try it out since we were in the mood for tacos. Service was great! Drinks came out quick and our taco orders fast. The tacos are a decent size, a bit on the salty side for me, but great flavor(spicy). I'd go back to try some other things!
(4)Sam D.
Perfect spot to have some tacos and tequila with friends.
(4)Shruta S.
Probably one of the best places to have Mexican street food in Chicago. Everything was super delicious.
(5)Katie V.
Quick service, super fresh ingredients, and very reasonably priced. Margaritas are between $8-$10 but delicious! I got the chile mango margarita and I would highly recommend it. For dinner I split 4 tacos with another person: al pastor, chicken Barbacoa, baja, and the veggie one with mushrooms. All in all $22. I will be back!
(5)Courtney W.
For me, this place can do no wrong (even though they have wronged me before). This place isn't very big and wait times can climb on Fridays and Saturdays but there is also a decent crowd during the week. They have daily specials, which is usually a particular taco that they only have once per week. The margaritas are pretty awesome, the blood orange one is a personal favorite. I also like the white sangria, it's crisp but won't leave you full or take away from your tacos. This place kind of reminds me of a small plates joint. We normally get the queso fundido with chorizo which is big enough for 2-3 to share. It's not too spicy or authentic but it'll do the job to quell my hunger and my tastebuds. I also get a one person serving of the original guac (they have about 4 kinds). Let me tell you, it isn't made tableside but this stuff is as fresh as it gets. We normally order about 3-4 tacos each. I also try the taco of the day (which could be chicken, beef, or fish) and a ceviche taco. The ceviche taco is excellent and the only taco on the menu served on a hard taco shell. It is interesting to eat, one bit sends the tender fish and juices everywhere but it's worth the mess. The beer battered tilapia taco is also a personal favorite as well as the barbacao taco. As for dessert, I'm not a flan fan so I still with the molten chocolate cake with icecream. Yes, it's typical dessert fare but it's really tasty after a Mexican culinary adventure. The prices aren't bad here either, on par with the area and the taqueria vibe is homey with a little Lincoln Park flare. I'm more than happy to call myself a regular!!!!
(5)Jim S.
The smallness of the place has to be addressed. We had a party of 4 and called 3 hours before to confirm what the wait would be. They said just call 30 minutes before and we'd be fine. Well we did. We showed and they said it would be 30 minutes. We did not get seat untill over an hour and a half later. There are literally 7 tables in the seating area and 3 high tables. Do not come here if you expect to get seated in a timely manner.
(2)Leilo P.
Dear Taco Joint, will you marry me? You make me happy and giggly and I love everything about you! I ordered Taco Joint via Grub Hub. I was hesitant about trying it since everyone called it "different." While Taco Joint is different it is delicious! The chips are a mixture of homemade tortilla chips, mixed with yucca and plantain chips. They're all delicious and they give you enough to last a week. The salsa was spicy, but I like heat so I loved it. Taco Joint is unlike other Mexican restaurants, its exactly the namesake - just Tacos. All the tacos are medium sized. If you're slightly hungry order two and if you're very hungry order three. I've tried all of them but my favorites include: The Ceviche Taco- you will not get another one like this in Chicago, Estilo Baja - cooked perfectly and needed no extra lime, and Al Pastor - personally I think its better than Big Star because its larger and more flavorful. If you want to stay home and not wait a long line at Big Star, you must try the Taco Joint for take out. I can't wait to visit the actual restaurant!
(5)Brittany H.
Taco joint is my favorite place for mexican in Lincoln Park. The restaurant is small, but I've never had to wait for a spot. They also have a carry out window with very quick take out service. Taco joint is very fresh mexican with unique items you can't find anywhere else. I love the chicken and shrimp tacos, and I'm all for trying the daily special. The tacos are around 2-3 bucks each, which makes it an affordable option for lunch or dinner.
(5)Jessica W.
Great food, and great service. Taco's were quite delicious, especially the Barbacoa and queso!. Also tried the guacamole and that was delicious as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)James S.
Pretty great tacos. My favorite is the Machaca with Coca-Cola braised beef.
(4)Alexandra H.
Love this place. This location is larger, so you won't wait as long and the food is just as good. LOVE the ceviche and tilapia tacos, but I don't have much bad to say. I would def. look for the Groupon deals that are out pretty frequently. $18 for $40? Yes please!
(4)Mike K.
Taco Joint. Go. Now. Put points on the board. Get: + Blood orange frozen margarita, sans salt on the rim. + Elotes. + Al pastor tacos. That's a triple spearheaded offensive onslaught. That's victory.
(5)Emily B.
I've tried various tacos, and love them all! Their margaritas are freaking amazing too! I wish their beans and rice were more flavlorful but other than that, everything is really good! Great serivce too! It is definitely underrated on the taco map of the city!
(5)Analise E.
This place is oh so delicious. My roommate and I live at the corner of Armitage and Halsted so we're constantly coming in (about once a week or so) because the food is cheap and the drinks are great. It's a perfect alternative to Big Star (no 3 hour wait and you can actually tell the difference between staff and customers). The guacamole is to die for, they always have a rotating guac that keeps things interesting, and never disappoints. The tacos are pretty standard - they recently switched the tortillas though and I much prefer the previous ones. The food isn't extremely authentic but I mean, that's basically in the name. Server John is AMAZEBALLS! He is hilarious and extremely attentive, we typically try to request him. The bartenders are also super friendly. There is a very, very rude black-haired hipster host that clearly would rather would be working anywhere but there...awful and annoying representation of the place. Other than that service is great. 4 stars for the very small awkward space (only about 5 tables not including the bar and half of the place is a hallway) and the grouchy host.
(4)Mary H.
Yep, Taco Joint is the bomb. I'm new to the neighborhood and this is going to be my go-to spot. The food/drink specials during the week are awesome and the food is very, very good. I appreciate having a restaurant in this neighborhood that doesn't triple the price just because they can. Last time I went I tried a torta, which was not I expected (because I didn't exactly know what a torta was) but OMG it was so good. I kept half for the lunch the next day -- and it was just as delicious. Watch out for the crowd later in the evening and on Thursday - Saturday, it's best to come a bit earlier if you don't want to wait for a while.
(4)Jay K.
Went to the Lincoln Park location and was not disappointed. I went with my group of friends and ordered like fatasses. The duck tacos were the highlight but all the tacos were delicious. The ambience, service, and pure congestion of the place may be off putting to some however.
(4)Cesar M.
Not feeling it. My niece had been bragging about this place for a while now. So we diceded to come here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. So it was my niece, my sister and I. We get and find parking quite fast and close to the restaurant. Why am I writing that? Well if there is something that I hate about the north side of the city specially the hipster hoods is that it is almost imposible to find parking. BTW I rarely have that problem in the south side. Any way we get there and are seated on the back room. I did notice on the way that they have a couple of table on the hallway leading to the back room, I imagine that it would be really uncomfortable to sit there on a busy day. We are seted and the order process stars. Long story short, we ordered many tacos to share. I tried rajas, cochinita, carnitas, baja and al pastor. We also had a trio of guacamoles, they were good but the one that stood out was the rojo, that one was goood. The tacos, mmm the tacos rajas was really good with black beans. Cochinita good as well flavorful and with the pickled onion. The carnitas was just ok, it comes with a peanut sauce that, for me, does not go well with the duck. Estilo Baja taco comes with a good spicy cole salw but the fish itself isn't all that. Guava water was very good. After dinner we had a tres leches caramel cake and flan. The cake is ok but it comes with caramel icecream that is soo good, I sould've ordered the icecream. The flan was tiny, small little flan and ok in flavor. Service is nice and price is ok for a place like this. TJ interesting tacos but I have had better
(3)Michaela D.
I get hungry just typing in "Taco Joint" into the search. This place is awesome. Casual but still kind of a nice/trendy vibe. The enchilada taco is the best invention... so freaking delicious. Drinks are good, when we went there was a buy a can of beer get a free tequila shot deal for $5. How can you not? Now I need a taco... and some tequila.
(5)Paul D.
Very disappointed they decided to change up their Carne Asada Torta. They kept the grilled steak and queso panela but no longer use the creamy sauce (I believe it was a chipotle flavor) that really made the sandwich. Instead, they added a dry black bean salsa and top it with arugula and it just doesn't provide the same flavor it once did. The tacos are great, providing a delicious variety but to me the tortas were the specialty items that really differentiated this place from all of the other great taco/Mexican places in the city.
(2)Kaitlyn W.
Taco Joint is a hip little restaurant in a cool part of town. I went around 5:30pm on a Saturday evening. The place was not crowded at all, but by the time we finished our meal shortly after 6pm, it was packed. Once it was packed it was pretty loud, and I felt like I almost had to shout to have a conversation with the person sitting across from me. Nonetheless, the atmosphere itself was still pretty great. As for the food, everything tasted really great! To start we ordered the traditional guacamole. The different types of chips were all good, and the guac was quite tasty. I also got the Baja taco and the Pancita taco. The ingredients in both tasted very fresh and high quality. For the tacos, beware the portion sizes are really small. Like the tacos are kind of tiny. 3 tacos (with the guac/chips) would have filled me up, but for reference just know I'm a college girl. So overall, it was really good and the price wasn't bad. I have no regrets going, but I will definitely search for another Mexican/taco place with larger portions.
(4)Steve W.
Here's You: I'm just a hungry person looking for something delicious, where I'll probably have to wait a little longer than I'd like, but when the food does arrive, it's flavorful, smile-inducing, and also tacos. Here's Me: You look really nice today. Also you HAVE to go to Taco Joint! The ceviche taco is arguably the most delicious taco in the city. If you're lucky enough to get the pork belly slow cooked with cola and other delicious flavors, get two! Here's some people on Yelp: Rabble Rabble Rabble, the portions are small, the waits are long, the food is really good, the drinks are pricey, parking is a problem, and other stuff. Here's Me Again: A lot of that is true, but if you can go at an off time, or at least, go knowing ahead you may have to wait a little, and you won't be eating here every night, you're going to love these tacos. They really are some of the best I've had in the city, and definitely better than a taco place in Bucktown that people rave about....you know the one.....Taco Bell.
(4)Johnnalee K.
Taco Joint is amazing! It's nearby so I'd seen it a million times but never went in, expecting maybe a local-style chipotle or some other quick, counter-service taco place. On New Year's Eve we were craving tacos and decided to walk over, and I was very pleasantly surprised. When we sat down, I asked the waiter about the Oaxacan Sour cocktail he told me "it tastes like a campfire." While my boyfriend recoiled in disgust, I was sold on the description and ordered it immediately. IT WAS AMAZING! Had a fresh, citrusy flavor but actually somehow did taste like a campfire. A heavenly, delicious campfire. Anyway, the waiter also told us we'd come on Taco Tuesday, where you get the 4 tacos for $9 deal. I chose the Barbacoa, Cochinita, Al Pastor, and Estilo Baja. WOW. They were all so unbelievably yummy and so different. Each one was a win. I can't wait to go back for another Taco Tuesday!
(5)Emily C.
Definitely didn't realize this was a sit down taco place, but that worked for us! Everything is a la carte and, I thought, reasonably priced. Tacos are around $3 each. We loved the guac of the day (with chickpeas) way better than the normal guac (very bland). All tacos we tried were good with the standouts being the Cochinita, the Michelada and Carnitas. We also tried a Torta (toasted sandwich) which had a delicious melted cheese on it. -1 star for the rude person who delivered our tacos. We were in a group of 4 and we all ordered different things. He put a couple of plates of tacos down and said, Here you go. I said, can you please explain which are which? And he said in a rude tone, these are an assortment. You don't say?!?! Our waiter came and went through them all with us. 252/365
(4)Christine H.
Interesting menu, good service, clean; BUT, not well lit, not easy to read the menu. I asked for a few alternations in my taco salad, received one, but not the other. Priced reasonably. Would go again..
(4)K S.
These by far were some of the best tacos I have had. The Carnitas were sooo good. I also had a grapefruit margarita pretty tasty as well! Will definitely be back! We randomly were walking by and decided to try this place out on a Thursday night. It was crowded and we had to wait about 20 min but we grabbed a drink at the small bar until our table was ready.
(4)Jack M.
Gotta love the Taco Joint. Have been a frequent patron as they serve up some of the most tastebud-blasting tacos in the city for a reasonable price, not to mention the multitude of guacs and assortment of dehydrated fruits and veggies that come mixed in with your tortilla chips for dipping. The marges a solid, but what has me going more than anything is the TO-GO-WINDOW!!!! Really, walked by the other day, grabbed two tacos and ate them as I walked. Too bad they weren't on board with my plot to fill up my big gulp cup with an on the go marge or I'd be offering up a 6th star...
(5)Leslie B.
Came in with Amy F, Sunny H, and Rachel D on a Friday night. Originally, we were quoted an hour and a half for a table, but were actually seated in less than an hour! Taco Joint is really small, so procuring a table really depends on the crowd. We started with a few pitchers of margaritas while we waited for our table. They were light and delicious, we all really enjoyed them. They also had some other drinks that I will definitely be trying next time I stop by! We were seated at a long communal table that we took up half of, our waiter came over soon after we were seated and was attentive the entire time. The ambiance in the back isn't particularly charming, there aren't even windows, but it was cozy. We started with the three guacamoles and the queso fundido. The guacs came with both tortilla and plantain chips. This was a great option for us to start with as it was a really large appetizer. All three versions of the guac were delicious, my favorite was the rojo because it had a little spice. The queso fundido with chorizo was phenomenal. How could it not be?! We couldn't get enough of this. For dinner, we each ordered three tacos, it was really helpful that you could just order one of each. I liked the camaron the best, the shrimp were very well seasoned and all of the flavors balanced each other nicely. I also enjoyed the fajita, this was a very typical steak taco, very flavorful. The only disappointment was the special, which was duck confit. The duck was overcooked and the flavors were just a little off. We all came the consensus that this was not the best choice. Overall, good tacos and margs, fun atmosphere, and reasonably priced!
(4)Timothy W.
Te amor el Taco Joint! I ate at the bar, and enjoyed the music and ambiance. Do not pass up the guacamole del dia as you'll get something excellente. The tortas are recommended, but I would surmise that the tacos are also spot on. Top it off with a Victoria (or Mexican/ craft beer of your choice) and you've got something. The staff was very friendly and the service was great. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Sharon N.
Sometimes you get tired of the same old Mexican food, which is now ubiquitous in Chicago. But--the Taco Joint does not serve the same old Mexican food!! This place is great! Well, the food is anyway. More about that later. The tacos are creative and reasonable. I love Friday because the Friday special is duck confit tacos, on a soft-ish whole wheat tortilla with a special sauce and pumpkin seeds. Come on, who ever heard of duck confit tacos in a casual Mexican joint?? SO good! I also like the ceviche taco, which is on a more standard crispy taco. Hubby got a fajita taco and a camarones. Also excellent. Each is priced separately, so it'e easy to mix and match. $3.50 each is not bad, considering two or three can fill a person. We also got the queso fundido, which is so-so. I've had better. It's very noisy, but we're used to that now. As seniors, we find most restaurants too noisy. So we don't talk much, we just eat. I don't think I'd want to come here on a date, though I saw several couples who were obviously on a date and didn't have trouble hearing each other. Think I need a new hearing aid!
(5)Mike M.
Ordered delivery on a Saturday night through grub hub. Delivery took 45 min, not bad for a Saturday night through grub hub. Priced pretty cheap. Guac was great, tacos were fantastic.
(5)Shannon K.
My, my, my what did I stumble upon? Admittedly I have lived in Chicago only a short time, but I nominate the Taco Joint as my new favorite Chicago Mexican food joint! The place is super cute and hip, the bartender dude was nice and attentive, but not annoying. I didn't have a cocktail, but I plan to go back and try a few of their creative drinks. I'm always slightly suspicious of any taco place that charges for chips and salsa, but I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived. On top of freshly warm, baked chips lay baked plantains and I believe terra root chips! Creative! Tasty! Pretty! And the salsa was fantastic. Spicy, but not overwhelming. Well worth $2! I also ordered the hibiscus agua fresca; it's refreshing and complements the spicy food well. I ordered the ceviche taco and the cochinita taco. My only complaint about the ceviche taco is it came on a crunchy shell. Not a fan. If it's going to be a crunchy shell, then make it a tostada. The cochinita came on a soft shell. The ceviche taco was really good and I would and will order it again, but the cochinita won the day! Oh.my .goodness. Yucatan style pulled pork, pickled red onion and a habanera salsa, someone knows how to blend tastes here! It was fabulous. Both were! Oh yeah - all this for under $10! I would take a date here, I feel comfortable eating alone here (cute little bar, tvs to entertain and nice bartenders) and I would take out of town guests here - to me that deserves 5 stars! I fully intend to be a regular and eat my way through the menu and drink my way through their bar!
(5)Adoley J.
I've been on a Mexican kick for a while now. This has lead me to travel all over the city to experience some good food. When a friend mentioned the Taco Joint, I said OK lets try it. Sadly I didn't love it. The margarita was great and they had a great deal with a tecate and a tequila shot for 5 dollars. Our waitress was also really nice and very attentive. That's where the good ends. In terms of the food, we ordered guacamole for the table. We got the rojo which was supposed to be on the spicier side and with a kick. It didn't have one, it was pretty bland and just alright. I then ordered a ceviche taco and an al pastor. The al pastor was chicken which OK. The meat was well cooked and it had a good flavor to it. The ceviche taco was not to my liking. I love all things fish, hot or cold, fried or not . Sadly I was just not loving that taco. It had a really fishy taste to it. Maybe it was an off night. I say this because both my friends tried it and agreed it was not good, but that taco has gotten rave reviews. I then ordered the beer battered tilapia which I enjoyed. Overall the food didn't wow me and with other really great taco spots in the city I don't think I'll head back here.
(2)Tamera B.
These tacos are really good.......let's be honest!!! They use quality ingredients and they're original. My favorites are the fish tacos and the chicken flautas. We've also tried the steak tacos which are amazing as well and cooked to perfection.......not tough. Taco Joint also offers different specialty tacos each day. Every time we've tried a specialty taco, we were very satisfied with it. We love Mexican food and have eaten good & bad tacos here and in Mexico as well, but Taco Joint makes us very happy!!
(5)Carlos M.
There are few margaritas in Chicago but none like the toronja/grapefruit of the Tacos Joint !!!" amar a dios or to love big chuy!!! Add a fruit cart salad with rugula. oh snap ! Just tried a mezcal mango margarita, pinches paisas!!!
(5)Emily Z.
Others are comparing this place to Big Star....no way. It is way better than Big Star in my book ! If I could give them 6 stars I would. I have no criticisms for Taco Joint and that might be a first for me! Okay, I can't resist, they need a sign on the front of the building but I'm sure that's on its way! Located in the old Minnie's building they have really managed to make it look different, other than the Minnie's name you walk over when entering the door ha. They are one of the few restaurants I've seen do run down rustic and pull it off. From the paint splattered tile floors to the label less Don Julio bottles used to fill your water glasses everything here just works! Service was great not only from our server Andre but the owner Edgar who went out of his way to explain things to us and even brought us a sample of their delicious margaritas. All margaritas are not created equal; Taco Joint managed to deliver the perfect combination of sweet, sour and salty. I will be back soon for another! We started with the Traditional Guacamole which was a great deal at $3. Probably a cup worth of guacamole peppered with fresh chunks of avocado and served with a basket of mixed chips; corn tortilla, tarro root, and plantain. It was good but it didn't blow me away, at the end of my meal I said we should have just skipped the guac and saved more room for their amazing tacos but at $3 a serving you can't really go wrong. We split one serving amongst two of us. You are given a white sheet of paper with all your options so as you decide what you want you can just add a tally mark in the appropriate box. We each ordered 3 tacos because they sounded so good we wanted to try them all! Fat Kids, but the waiter calmed our conscious by telling us he usually eats 6 ha! I obviously ate off my dining partners plate also so here is the break down starting with the best: 1) Ceviche - Best taco of my entire life. Reminds me of eating ceviche when I went to Ecuador. Fresh Tilapia and a squirt of fresh lime all served up in a crunchy homemade shell, perfecto 2) Al pastor - Marinated shredded Chicken 3) Carnitas - Shredded Duck with pickled onions, this one was a little spicy for me but I am a baby so if you like spice you'll love it 4) Barbacoa - beef brisket with cilantro and onion 5) Tinga - Chicken with guac salsa. My friend liked this one with its pieces of pineapple mixed in but the chicken seemed to be mixed with something that made it an odd texture to me There menu is not online yet so the above is from memory. Hopefully I remembered right haha! The tacos came out with beautiful presentation. Other than the Ceviche and its crunchy shell they all came out on green corn tortillas. 1 diet coke, 1 Jarritos, 1 order of guac and 6 tacos = $22. Honestly its one of the best most delicious deals around. Oh and the tax is already figured in to the prices on the menu, genius! WARNING: this review is slightly misleading because you are probably assuming they only have tacos which is not the case, they also have fajitas and tortas ect; but there tacos are so good I many never try anything else! RUNNING BACK as we speak!
(5)Casey M.
I love Tacos. I have had a plethora of good, mediocre and amazing tacos in my day. And the tacos at Taco Joint were small, mighty, cheap and delicious. The margaritas were okay, but service was great. The Taco Joint is a cozy urban taqueria with great service and a great bang for the buck. It was early evening on a Friday and Taco Joint was filling up quickly. I hurried inside to snatch a table before it got too packed. I was sat at a side bench table between the front and back of the restaurant. It was a little tight, but angling your stool a certain way can ease up on the tight space. I was then warmly greeted by my server who went over the margarita list. He suggested the Prickly Pear Margarita and I ordered it. The Margarita came quickly and it did not disappoint, but perhaps a tad too sweet for my tastes.The server suggested the Carnitas, Cochinita, Arabe and the Especial del Dia Tacos. I ordered them all and at $3 a piece, why not? The Carnitas Taco (only served on friday) was filled with confit duck and ancho salsa and The Cochinita Taco was filled smokey pulled pork, pickled onions and spicy habanero salsa both were served on handmade corn tortillas. The Arabe Taco was filled with Lebanese style marinated pork loin and chipotle salsa on a Mexican style pita and the Especial de Dia Taco was filled with ranchero steak with chiles and a spicy sauce served on a handmade flour tortilla. All the tacos were good. The Carnitas Taco promised to be delicious, but failed with dried out duck. The Cochinita was good, but lacked a certain "je ne sais quoi." The Arabe and The Especial were the stars that night. The Arabe's tender slow cooked pork with spicy and smoky salsa served on a pita triangle was amazing and The Especial's slow simmered steak with all the delicious accoutrement really shined. I finished the meal with another margarita. This time I went for the house margarita, The Zocalo, and felt it really lack the citrus zing I look forward to. The server was very attentive and his suggestions were great. The bill was not too bad at all either, very affordable. The overall meal was good, but I feel some minor things are lacking. I will definitely be back to peruse the menu again.
(4)Elyse M.
New must-go to spot! I've yet to find a menu item I didn't become immediately obsessed with. Please go to the Taco Joint, order a chile mango margarita, and all of the guacs, and just enjoy yourself. Great service, amazing food, creative drinks...also just a super fun and chill vibe. New favorite ladies' night out spot, but could also work for a celebratory dinner, post-work drinks, or dates!
(5)Hannah H.
We sat up at the bar on a Thursday evening with no wait and had exceptional service from Marisa. You all are raving about the dang grapefruit marg, but in a side by side not yet blind taste test, the chili mango marg won out. We also tried the black and green which was unique and very tasty. There was no special guac that day, so the two of us shared one tradicional- flavor was spot on. The different types of chips were amazing (I'll be scouring Trader Joe's for something similar). On to the tacos and here is where I thank the Lord it was Thursday... Salmon with Bacon was amazing. We also enjoyed the baja especial, the cochinita, and the Michelada. Great eats, service, and value. I can't wait to visit again!
(4)Nicole J.
So good and convenient. Can get really busy and hectic on weekends but worth it. Tacos and drinks are really good. Had the fish tacos. But spicy but in a good way! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Antaash U.
The second time here only reinforced how delicious TJ is! I almost did a happy dance in my seat when I realized I had finally been granted the opportunity to try the elusive Wednesday special: Shrimp Tacos. I must have been a bit exuberant in my excitement because a passerby commented on how he had just devoured three and that they were about to make it on to the permanent menu! Now, I don't have to wait until a Wednesday to go to back to TJ! They were absolutely, mouth wateringly delicious. I wish I had taken the time to remember everything that was in them...but I was too busy inhaling my meal. We also tried the special guacamole of the day which had mango and papaya in it with a sprinkling of paprika (I think) on top. It took a honorable mention guacamole straight to first place! If anyone from TJ's is reading this, I wouldn't be mad if this made it onto the permanent menu as well :)! So, Taco Joint is a 2/2 for me! The shrimp tacos are going to keep me coming back for sure!
(5)Jon D.
This is a fantastic meet-up spot, good casual date location, and great friday-after-work-early-dinner-before-going-out place. The food: The Elotes comes off as a bit mushy, and slathered in mayo, making it extra sloppy. It's not bad, but it's missing texture, and defined flavors. The Guacs come in 3-4 varieties, the esquitas is good, but a bland, the rojo will bite you in the ass if you get some of the red, but if not, it's just standard guac. The tacos come on corn tortillas, so add a point for all you gluten-free folks. The meats are well seasoned, but after trying 4-5 different kinds, they all lack texture- a crunch. The flavors are otherwise okay. The drinks: This is where you're going to get hit on the bill. You'll pay $9-$12, which isn't bad, but they can be exceptionally sweet/tart and lack a "fresh" taste feeling I expect with a margarita. The Sangria is a bit more evenly distributed. The location: a bit cramped in the back, and lord help you if there are screaming children. It is cozy and warm, though. The service is incredibly fast, the servers are fantastic, friendly, and open to helping you through the menu. The prices are okay, but I wanted more. There's a lot of potential.
(3)Meredith K.
Our 2nd time here. Both times with a groupon and both times great! The thing that was a bit weird was that the guacamole of the day was the same - the italian one with basil and cheese. Its good! The rojo guac was the best that we tried. The one with roasted corn is just eh. I really like the chicken tinga and the fried tilapia. When it comes you think that 3 little tacos is not going to be enough, but yes it is! The margaritas are very good too. What we really enjoy is the 80s tunes like Joy Division, The Cure, Depeche Mode etc. We will be back with or without a groupon (but odds seem in our favor for getting another deal)
(4)Jessica B.
I finnalllyyyy went here after hearing people rave about it... and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! The service was great - absolutely no complaints there - drinks and tacos came out supa fast! I started out with a Strawberry Mint agua fresca and it was great - went really well with my tacos. I got the Al Pastor, Carnitas, and the Michelada, all were good, but the carnitas was phenomenal, the salsa and fresh avocado on top were incredible. Only 2 problems; the beef in the Michelada was a little dry and tough, but the sauce did a decent job covering it up. Also, there serve them family style, so not being familiar with what was what, we had a little struggle figuring out who got what tacos! All in all I will be back... the food was fantastic, and I will definitely be trying some of their margaritas next time!
(4)Andy L.
Hands down my favorite Mexican place in the Windy CIty. Amazing tacos and mexican street food. Top 3 "regular" tacos on my list are the Cochinita (pork), Caramon (shrimp) and Estillo Baja (fish). However, the Tuesday special - Quesa-taco (steak & cheese) is the most epic item severed. You might want to stay away from the Fruta con Chile... it isn't all that tasty and so many other things are wonderful. The Elotes are a nice change of pace and not always the easiest to find in a standard Mexican place. The Black & Green Margarita is a south of the border, boozy utopia. Overall, Mercadito's club scene, Big Star's hipster-cult following and Rick Bayless' top chef reputation don't stack up to this Lincoln Park gem. Side note: the only downside of TJ is the seating, which is pretty tight so there can be a wait. However, it's nothing too unbearable, even on a Friday night. Other side note: this place is actually way tastier than Zocalo (Taco Joint's more mature, fancier, big sister).
(5)Morgan L.
Just found out this place delivers to me and now I'm addicted! The enchilada tacos are insane. I keep meaning to order something new but can't get myself to get over the enchilada. This place is amazing
(5)Benjamin D.
If I want Taco's without a scene or wait (Big Star) this place is my favorite. It's easy to park around there if you must, the prices are very reasonable and the food is great. My recommendations are the Fajita Steak Taco, the Camrones Taco (shrimp and spinach chips) and the triple threat guac with plantain chips. Might be to your taste but I find their Margaritas slightly too sweet, especially the 'organic one, but that doesn't mean you can't throw back a few T's with a Corona or two! Cheers!
(4)Larry T.
Very cool place, they have a full bar which is great, I had the steak tacos that were amazing very good high-quality steak. But I didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling from the staff. Kinda had the stuck up nose in the air kind of people. You know the cold shoulder kind of people not the true Chicago people friendly and make you feel at home. But the place was very clean. I will give them that. Won't be running back there anytime soon.
(3)Maria M.
Had an amazing late lunch yesterday , at 130 pm taco joint has a special , 2 tacos , chips and guac, or rice and beans , and a house margarita for freaking 12 dollars!!! It was delicious, and thanks jay for amazing service !!! We will definitely be back.
(5)Eames E.
Every Sunday evening my doctors administer a series of mood elevators and nerve conduction suppression medications intravaneously that leaves me twisted and disoriented, I decided to take advantage of the gorilla tranquilizers Dr. Monsanto pumped my buns with and stumble down Halsted in the vain hope that this will finally be the day that I find the Holy Grail of Water. I sauntered into Taco Joint bleary eyed with my usual tremors (great Kevin Bacon flick btw you should check it out sometime) and sat at the bar, I ordered the Elotes which were grilled corn on the cob coated in cheese, pequin pepper, and smothered in mayo (though i wish the bartender would've smothered it in the molten hot stew of man mayo he undoubtedly had bubbling in between his legs however this request was not accepted). Now, lets get down to what matters, the water. The agua (mexican for water) was delivered in a regular glass with square cubed ice that was at least 32 degrees or lower in temperature. The water had a great, smooth texture to it and a slightly saline after taste. I asked the bar tender what year the water was and he said it was definitely a 2013 which is surprising given the texture. The water was so good that I asked for a few to go and had the barkeep fill up my Limited Edition Game of Thrones Crystal Travel Decanter with the heavenly fluid, however further inquiries to fill me with his fluid were unfortunately declined. Would highly recommend to other water drinkers in the area I just hope this place doesn't get overrun with wannabe hipster aguaheads like at Chicago's Dog House. Oh, and the Elote provided an amount of calories and nutrition to further sustain my body for a reasonable amount of time so I would recommend to eat it as a food if you are looking to continue living
(5)Kevin M.
This place was kind of a mixed bag. A lot of positives and negatives: On the plus side, great drinks! The margaritas were fantastic, they had a cool menu of mixed drinks, and its tough to beat a $5 tequila shot/Modelo beer special on a Saturday no less. Our entrees were tasty, especially the shrimp tacos! The chicken taco wasn't as great, but still a good choice. Our waitress was very nice at the beginning of the meal and was very patient when we were ordering. On the negative, service was pretty slow, especially at the end. I understand that we were getting near closing, but come on! You have to come to our table more than once every 20 minutes, especially if you know we're close to being done. Getting one last drink and the check took too long in my opinion. We also got the guacamole, which was just ok. Taco Joint is a good place to go; just make sure you do a good job of flagging down the waitress when you need something.
(3)Katherine B.
I got a margarita and tacos over the weekend. Loved my drink and food- But the service ruined my experience. She didnt answer any of y questions and never checked up on us to see if I wanted another drink(Which I did!) Thank god for the fish tacos Thats all im saying!
(3)Alec K.
So based off of places like la Pasadita, taco joint does not stack up. Not to say the food was that bad, but definitely not worth it in my book. 3 dollars for a taco that you could eat in two bites is extremely pricey. Now the meat was delicious but their salsa's were underwhelming except for the habanero salsa which was fantastic. Overall, i wouldn't suggest this place if you want good bang for your buck.
(2)David Z.
Since we had a Groupon I had tapered expectations. It seems like a lot of places that do Groupons lately aren't...good. So why do I keep buying these damn Groupons??? Every once in a while, a place like Taco Joint will give me a pleasant surprise. We went directly after work on a Friday, so we got there at around 5:45. I will say that if you are going to go on a Friday, get there before 6pm because it got really packed shortly after we got there. There is a bar area in the front and a small dining area in the back. If you are going to dine in the evening expect to wait, because there are only about 10 tables back there. The Groupon entitled us to six tacos and two Zocalo margaritas. The margaritas were mediocre at best. I felt like the drinks were made with some generic margarita mix, and too much of it. But where Taco Joint really shined was the food. The chips & salsa were good, and included a few different types of chips. The tacos we ordered (I can't even remember all the different types we tried) were all quite good. My favorites were the barbacoa, and some pork one that actually came on a pita instead of a corn tortilla. Interestingly enough, I think my favorite part was actually the side rice dish I ordered. I loved the green rice! Definitely give the rice a try if you are going there. Without a Groupon, the tacos are a little pricey ($3 each), but they are pretty filling. If you eat the chips & salsa, get a side of rice, and get two or three tacos, that should be MORE than enough. So even though the tacos sound expensive it's still going to be less than $20 unless you start pounding drinks (which are admittedly expensive, around $10 each). I'd like to go back for sure, to try some of the other interesting taco combos that we didn't get this time around.
(4)Susan G.
Authentic, delicious tacos! Try the chorizo cheese dip,it's to die for. Fun, lively ambiance.
(5)Niti B.
Still amazing! This time around I went with just a good gal pal and I ordered the Veggie gordita. Words can't describe how deliciuos it was! The thought of just typing this makes my mouth water..and the best part lunch only cost $6!!! I can't wait for more summer days to make trips over to Taco Joint for a few tacos and drinks. I think I will have to make my way over on Tuesdays when the chef entertains the idea of twitter ideas for what to have on the menu and taco specials on different days of the week.
(5)K E.
Delicious! Fridays $5 shot and beer special was a great deal. The tacos were wonderful and for about $3 each you can sample many and not break the bank. The restaurant has limited seating so I suggest arriving early.
(5)Andy M.
I'm going to open my review with a warning. Yes! The food was awesome. Yes! The Hostess was really on the ball. But this isn't Mexican food. The Taco joint offers a variety of strange Taco options that range from Beef Brisket Taco's, Lebanese style Taco's and Tilapia Taco's. At first glance, the menu really pissed me off. I was in the mood for a Torta, or a Burrito the size of Wyoming. I wasn't in the mood for the teensy Taco's that I witnessed come out of the kitchen. The Taco joint is different, but I actually came around to their style of food. We walked into this closet sized restaurant on a Friday night around 6:30. The place was already jam packed. I walked up to the hostess and asked how long the wait would be. After checking her clip board, she said it would be an hour and a half. Whoa!! No thanks. The hostess then asked us if we wanted to do a take out order. We were a long way from home and neither my wife nor I was in the mood for cold Taco's, so we took a pass. The Hostess was stubborn. She then offered us an option we could live with. She said we could order our food to go and eat at the Bar next door. What the hell !. We decided to do it. While others were gazing at the walls while waiting for a table, my wife and I had our order in under 10 minutes and were on our way down the street to the Marquee lounge. My first impression of the food was correct, the Taco's are tiny. Tiny and delicious. My two favorites were the Arabe (Lebanese pork loin) and the Barbacoa (Beef brisket). While small, all the Taco's were packed with flavor. And the star of the show was the homemade Guacamole. The Guac was fresh, creamy and delicious. Here's the bottom line. The Taco joint doesn't offer anything resembling the traditional Mexican food I love. They do their own thing, and they do it well. I should have gotten the hostesses name, but it was just too busy for me to track her down after we got our food. She wouldn't take no for an answer. She gave my wife and I a wonderful alternative to the 90 minute wait that was in store for us. If it wasn't for her, we would have missed out on some delicious grub and for that I thank her.
(5)Mark M.
Very good atmosphere. Service was very prompt. Taco's were quite delicious, especially the Barbacoa. Also tried the guacamole and that was delicious as well. Only negative was (and I'm knit picking) water glasses were quite small and no ice in the water. Overall, food was very good.
(4)Emma K.
I recently moved two blocks North and six blocks East ... but I'm glad that Taco Joint is right in between so I still don't have to walk far :) I first got delivery from Taco Joint, and based on that experience alone I would rate it a 3. Decent, but nothing too special. My next trip was on girls night, and the combination of free guacamole trio (I had a coupon) and margarita sold me. I like that it is small and you order individual tacos - the Baja is my favorite. I also recently found out they have a take-out window so I can pick-up while walking the dog - made my week!
(4)Dani K.
Sigh - I want to love or even like this place, but they have yet to get our order right. They are zero for 3 on takeout order correctness. Plus our most recent order was way over salted and frankly nothing special. My advice- please please check your takeout order receipt.
(2)Erich S.
I have been to Taco Joint twice in the past week. This place is the entire package! Food: Their tacos are little slices of heaven. They are not Mexican street tacos but they are some gourmet stuff. I am almost at a loss of words to describe them. My menu selections were very limited since I don't do meat. I had the poblano and onion taco and honestly I could go back daily to eat them. The other taco I tried was the vegetarian. It wasn't as wonderful as a taco but I had it as a Torta and the potato was spiced so dang yum! The Rojo guacamole was killer. I asked for extra salsa because it was so good. The salsa was an extra .50 which I thought was crappy but it's only .50. The chips with the guacamole were pretty good too. They have plantains and other chips in a bowl with the guacamole. I didn't get charged for extra chips which was a bonus. Restaurant: The place is kind of small. You can sit at the bar, tables in the back, or small tables in the walkway. The first visit was on a Friday night and we took what we could get which was a small table on the wall in the walkway near the kitchen door. The second time we sat at a table in the back for lunch. The walkway tables are bar height and just seems in the way. If you have a choice, sit at the bar or in the back. Drinks: I just had water cause thats what I do. My buddy had sangria and raved about it. Said it was worth every penny of the $8. Staff: The staff is on top of everything. We were greeted and offered a table quickly. Food was out very promptly and our table was tended too. Overall: I look forward to going back soon. This place has moved up my list favorite place on the north side.
(5)Liz K.
I'm wavering between a 3 and a 4 for Taco Joint, but because I'm considering coming back, I'll round up to a 4. I didn't know what to expect when I heard "joint" in the name but when I walked in, the name just...fit. There's a small bar, maybe 6 or 8 tables in the back, and it is packed with people waiting. Side note: They won't seat you until your entire party is there. Luckily, they have some delicious cocktails to keep you busy while you wait - I wish I had tried something more exotic, but perhaps that's why I am considering coming back. The ceviche, arabe, and rajas tacos were yummy. Don't pass up the ceviche; it's got just the right amount of tang and is the only taco on the menu served on a hard shell. The tacos are so cheap that just maybe I will come back until I've tried each one on the menu - can't say that about a whole lot of places!
(4)Lauren G.
I use to work directly across the street from Taco Joint. I have only been there twice and that was because the second time my co-workers encouraged it. -_- Booshie as helllllllllll for a taco place. The meat is good don't get me wrong but I don't believe in spending more than 3.00 for a taco. I mean, really? If you're a booshie person this place will fit your taste then, so, sorry I'm not sorry. Very American"ized" I can't even classify it as Mexican really, I just can't. I've had better food at Burrito House. The overall feel of the place is very small, dim, usually crowded. The staff is just okay, not too nice not too rude. It just doesn't stand out to me as anything special, damn booshie tacos.
(2)Stacee D.
This place doesn't get 5 stars for this reason: Tiny water glasses, you have to keep filling them up with the tequila resembling bottles that they leave at your table. And the strange app I got - some taquito resembling weirdness with potatoes and carrots on the inside. Sounded interesting so I tried it, and they should really remove it from the menu. Other than that the ceviche taco and battered tilapia tacos I got were excellent. The guac serving size is small in my open, but if it is just two of you splitting it, you should be fine. The tacos are traditional street style size tacos, so I have heard people say that the serving are small- but it's a taco, not a burrito people:) I would definitely go back here next time I am in the area!
(4)Marisa A.
I live for tacos and I live down the street from Taco Joint. Yet, if a craving for warm tortillas and yummy fillings strikes me, you probably won't find me here. I think that speaks to Taco Joints A-OKness. The food itself is pretty solid. I love that they use cool ingredients like malanga and pineapple-serrano pico de gallo. Unfortunately, those flavors only sort of transfer into flavorful food. Every taco at Taco Joint leaves me wishing for just a bit more: a bit more spice, a bit more acid, a bit more sauce. I ordered takeout from here once and it was much more enjoyable, because I was able to add my own sauces at home. And I didn't have to sit in that God-awful dining area. The dining area. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Nothing about Taco Joint's table service makes sense to me. They give each table a pitcher of water and teeny-tiny juice glasses. Cool, I'll just keep refilling my baby cup with water every 3 minutes. Are they trying to get me to order a margarita? They bring out the tacos for the entire table on one platter, and don't bring small plates to each person unless asked. I also had to ask for a straw for my Mexican Coke, which was too short so it just sank to the bottom of the bottle as I drank it. And when I was here over the weekend, the busboys were super aggressive in grabbing my food before I was done with it. With that being said, the Baja taco has perfectly fried fish and the filling for the Fajita taco is generous.
(3)Allie H.
This is one of my favorite places in Chicago. The wait can be intense (especially if you go at a busy time), but if you get the right tacos- this place is amazing. I highly recommend the coke glazed pork taco (I believe they only sell them on Sundays but its worth it!). PS Their margaritas are fantastic.
(4)Shane C.
Forget Big Star. After eating here, it's out of the picture. This place is fantastic. Worth the straying away from Wicker Park for a good taco. Big star doesn't even compare to Taco Joint when it comes to portion, flavor, service, and an all around A+ experience. From now on, I will certainly choose Taco Joint as my "go-to." It isn't nearly as expensive as Big Star either. So if you're a fan of Big Star, five Taco Joint a chance. You will get more food for the price. I don't see why you wouldn't. Recommended for everyone. Please go. You won't be sorry.
(5)Pete V.
Every time I pass by Taco Joint I get this feeling that it's simply a bad Chili's-Stanley's hybrid...a generic Mexican restaurant hiding in a Lincoln Park fratty bar's clothing. But after going to TJ for the first time last night I stand to be corrected. The food was not only good, it was delicious, the service was stellar and I simply can't knock a place that executes as well as they did last night. We stopped in on a Friday night around 9 pm and indeed we were toting a Groupon...the staff was totally cool with it and although the wait was 30 min for a table, we snagged two seats at the bar and proceeded to down some beer and tequila. Value fans should note that you can get a can of Tecate and a shot of tequila for just $5! We ordered six tacos, all different kinds, and I must say that every single one was excellent. In fact, they cochinita pibil may have even been better than Big Star if that's possible. The only taco I felt was simply average was the bistek, where I thought the steak was under seasoned. I must add that the fish taco was fried to perfection and complimented beautifully by the creamy sauce it was served with. Finally, make sure you check the daily specials before you go. They showed us a list of the specials, which change daily, and they seem to be a superb value. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the food, and would not hesitate to return. I'm glad that a suitable replacement has finally arrived in the old Minnie's space...RIP.
(4)Pooja K.
This place is just awesome. The chiles torreados are great with not too much spice. The Rajas tacos are also incredible. Great ambiance
(5)Clayton B.
I've visited taco joint a few times in Lincoln Park. I always sit at the bar and get decent service (not very friendly or happy). I love their selection of guacamoles and that they offer specials of the day so there are plenty options. Also, they have a good, unique selection of flavored margaritas. Definitely a spot I will come back to frequently.
(4)E H.
Used to smash this place with Adam B. Not so much now. Waiting for Cecil and doing Yelp reivews. Ceviche.
(5)Annie N.
Fun place for a casual date. I loved the atmosphere and the food - street tacos are offered at smaller portion allowing you to try multiples at once. The guacamole was delicious, and so were the tacos. Drinks were alright - my sangria was a little too alcoholic for me! We went here for a friend's birthday and the waiter brought out a small cake with a candle on it. Very nice of him. Decent pricing and good food. I'm coming back for more!
(4)Aubrey R.
Called at 6:41 and was told delivery would take 45 mins to 1 hour. After we called 2 times, food finally came at 8:19pm. 1 hour and 40 minutes for 5 tacos, chips + salsa? Food was cold and they didn't even get my order right. What a disappointment. First and last time we will be ordering from this place. They should have at least called to tell us that they were backed up or on our 2nd call, say let me take off 10% or something for you next order, but no, nothing. Just, oh...we're really busy tonight. Don't take delivery orders then? Just a thought...
(2)Tom C.
I couldn't get out of this place fast enough, it was miserable. I think you need to smoke a joint before eating at this place to make it a nice experience. We sat in back and the decibel level of hammered hipsters talking loudly to each other was insane. My dinner mate and I tried to have a few conversations, that all pretty much went like this: Me: Do you want to get the guacamole? Him: WHAT? Me: WHAT? Him: WHAT? Me: Nevermind. Him: WHAT? The first 10 minutes of the experience I was freezing, the air was blasting around 50 degrees or so. Someone else must have complained because it gradually began warming up... and never stopped warming up! My friend was wiping sweat from his brow by the end and I was fanning myself. Sorry, for all the bitching. Just being honest. On to the food: Rojo Guacamole - meh, standard guac with siracha sauce squirted on top. Shrimp taco - bad, tiny frozen shrimp, fishy, bland Fajita taco - the "star" of my meal, but just okay Elotes - WTF, everyone gave rave reviews about this... but it's just not good. You can definitely taste the sourish mayo, that makes your mouth pucker, and then dries it out with the cheese it's been rolled in that tastes exactly like the green can Parmesan by Kraft. Chile Mango Marg. - OK. Service - fast nice, agreeable (said "NICE CHOICE!" after each item I ordered, so a little annoying). I don't get it. I really don't get it. What are you kids smoking???
(2)Ashley C.
Good tacos and great margaritas! I went with a group of 7 and we were JAMMED in to our booth. Definitely suited better for small groups. I'll definitely go back and try again though. The service was fast and everyone was friendly.
(4)Angie K.
Living near Taco Joint makes my lazy cooking days happen a little more frequently. I've done for carry-out and dine-in and had pretty good experiences during both. I've ordered the estilo baja (fish), rajas (beans), ceviche (MY FAV!) and the camaron. They are all really good tacos. I still consider them second to my number 1 love, Big Star, but that's ok. My bf loves their Al Pastor and considers the pork taco a little too greasy. We always ALWAYS get their elote and I even suffer from elote withdrawals from time to time. They're addicting! Queso fundido is pretty solid, but again, I've been spoiled by Big Star's. They have a wide array of guac and I personally like the traditional. The space inside is small and has a really cool feel with the dim lighting, old tequila bottles and wood decor throughout. We are always seated promptly, but that's because we know better than to pass by during peak hours. The only issue I ever had occurred one time I ordered carry-out and they forgot one of my tacos. When I called to politely let them know, the manager offered to mail me a $25 gift card and 2 weeks later, I was there again. The service ihas always been pretty good and I don't really have any other issues. I'm just a spoiled, taco brat.
(4)Megan S.
This place is great if you're into the trendy fusion take on street tacos (I know I am). Most tacos are $3-4, and I have never been disappointed by a taco here. They have different recipes and daily specials. The cochinita and barbacoa are regulars on the menu and are always good. I also really love the fried tilapia taco. One of the best fish tacos I've ever had. The guacamole is fresh and consistently good. My boyfriend is obsessed with the rojo guac, it's a spicy sauce and the perfect heat for us. Pretty spicy food all around, may not be for you if you have a low tolerance to heat. The margaritas are also very good. $30/ pitcher isn't a terrible price for the quantity with the margaritas, but very fruit heavy sangria pitcher, just get a glass if you want to try it. The red is great, not very strong but refreshing. Overall, this place is definitely worth checking out.
(4)Dermot M.
A small place on the corner of Armitage and Halsted that I usually pass on my way back from work. It often looks crowded, which is usually a good sign, so I decided to stop in, sit at the bar, and give the food a shot. A few brief comments about the food: Barbacoa tacos - unfortunately, the beef was a little bland. Not very memorable. Pastor tacos - a little better. The pastor almost seemed to be in a cream sauce, which I found odd. This is no big deal if the taco ends up being tasty, but this one seemed a little bland to me as well. Shrimp tacos - better again. A generous helping of small, sweet shrimp on a corn tortilla. Best of the bunch, and definitely the most interesting. Refried beans - standard, perfectly fine. Other - bartender service was friendly, attentive. Bottled beer selection had some interesting Mexican beer selections from good breweries like Great Divide and 5 Rabbit. I've only been here once and the menu seemed pretty big, so I will return to see if my opinion about the food changes. For now, a solid 3 stars.
(3)Jaime M.
Sad. This used to be a great place, but it seems to be following in the foot steps of other gentrified taco venues that have established a name and built a loving customer base (in this case DePaul students) who want a relatively tasty dish with their booze and perhaps have never tasted a real taco such as those from Atotonilco, so they don't really care or know any better and so they keep coming back and opening their wallets. But I hadn't been here in like 10 months so I did notice a big difference tonight. Tacos are smaller (still $3 each) and not spectacular like they used to be (this seems to be a contagion from what happened to the tacos at the Lincoln Park Whole Foods btw). I don't blame the owners. If they have a large and loyal customer base (the place was packed with a 30 min wait on a Wednesday) that is willing to pay good money for smallish blah-spiced tacos, why give them more? It's a business and a restaurant owner is always looking at how to minimize food cost below 30% and increase margin, so if people are signing onto a waiting list, elbowing each other to see who can get their credit card out first and pay a ton of their disposable income for a small tortilla with a little protein in it, well let them, no one is forcing them to do so. So, next time I want tacos but I feel lazy to drive to Little Village I guess i'll just fast. At least I won't feel ripped off.
(2)Justin B.
Went to Taco Joint 3/12/2013. I wish the beer prices were a little cheaper, but otherwise, this was quality eats. A friend and I split chips and guac; the chips were a cool blend of plantain chips, regular tortilla chips and big, round chips that were crazy crunchy. The rojo guac was spicy and the guac of the day was even better. Got the shredded pork, the fried tilapia and the Tuesday Taco del Dia...fantastic, although I give a slight edge to the pork. The taco of the day was like two tacos rolled inside of a large tortilla...when it gets warm, and Big Star is crushed with people cooler than me, I hope that Taco Joint will let me sit down and spend my hard-earned cash on tacos near my house, because I thought the food was just as good.
(5)Shawn K.
Taco joint is definitely worth a try next time you are craving tacos. Their tacos are much more thoughtful in appearance and taste than anywhere else I've eaten. There are a small, diverse variety of tacos sure to please anyone. Everyone I have ever tried has been good. Aside from the regular taco menus they always have at least one on special everyday. The tacos aren't huge but 2 Tacos and an appetizer usually do the trick. The guacamole is excellent. It's comes with a variety of chips. The seating area is small, every time I have come there has been no room at the bar or a table. If it is packed and you don't feel like waiting, you can order takeout at the register. Ordering out is always the safest option. Additionally, there is a takeout window on the outside wall whee you can pick your food up without having to deal with a packed space. As far as tacos go, this is my favorite place to eat. It's quick, not terribly expensive and always interesting. Check out more of my reviews at ShawnKemp.yelp.com
(4)Jayson B.
Great place. It definitely isn't like your traditional Mexican Restaurant. Will come back again!
(5)Dianna S.
This place is delicious! My husband and I randomly found it through Yelp and decided to try it one day while we were out running errands. My favorites are the flautitas and the cochinita taco. I've tried a lot of the tacos here though and can honestly say I haven't had a bad one. Anytime we come for lunch there is no wait but it seems fairly busy. The drinks are all pretty good too.
(5)Erin K.
Um, so good. I was in Austin for the first time this March and tried Torchy's tacos... so fracking good!! I was complaining all the way back to Chicago that we didn't have any comparable amazing and flavorful taco joints. It's all Taco Burrito palaces... grumble. But it was like some one else in Chicago had the same thought and opened Taco Joint... yes! This place has delicious tacos. Good flavors, good spice, just good. -- UPDATE -- I've ordered take out from here a couple times since I oringally visited. And while I'm still super stoked to have such a great taco place in Chicago I found the flavor combinations in the tacos to be really hit or miss.
(4)Christina P.
OMG!!! I loved it. I had the Baja fish tacos and I fell in love. They were so delicious. Our waiter was also so friendly and respectful. Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Lisa R.
This was my first time going to this restaurant this last Friday. I called to make a reservation but was told they did not take them. At first, I was turned off by that but once I got there and saw the set up I could see why they didn't do reservations. My friend and I sat at the bar and had a drink while we waited. The drinks were amazing and refreshing. I had the day of the dead drink. The coco powder on the rim was reminiscent of Abuelita. But at the same time, I've never had anything like it. It was so good, just try it! My friend had the chile mango margarita, I tried some and it was tasty. We started out with the guajillo chile stewed mushroom queso fundido. It was good. The salsa that came with it made it even better! I had the taco special that night, shrimp aguachile. I wasn't very impressed. I expected more flavor but I only tasted shrimp. I also had the carnitas taco. It didn't taste like I thought it would. But, that one had far better taste than the other. We also had the elote. The corn was undercooked or something. I didn't care for it, I've had way better off the street or at home. Beans and rice were basic, complimented the tacos. We ended the meal with 2 more drinks since the first were so impressive. I had the coconut lime margarita. It was ok. My friend had the paloma negra. Far better than my second choice. If it weren't for those amazing drinks and that awesome queso and salsa I would have given 2 stars. I have to give the tacos another shot.
(3)David S.
The food is awesome, the guac is great and the tacos are sooo tasty. Unfortunately the service was too fast and too attentive becoming obnoxious. We got our margarita bottle within a minute which was great and our guac the next minute. Great! We were going to enjoy them.... No, we were asked if we wanted plates to be removed when the guac was still there, then the tacos appeared (2 minutes after the guac), and more questions about cleaning up the table... For 15 minutes we were interrupted constantly - I realized out of concern for too much stuff on our table - but we wanted to enjoy our food and talk without being interrupted constantly. Just made me feel like an unwanted guest. Too bad.
(2)Alexis H.
I went here on a Thursday night with a friend, and we were both pleasantly surprised by how good it was. We started with chips and salsa, which came with tortilla, plantain and another kind of chip, all freshly made. The salsa had the right amount of bite and heat, and the different kids of chips were great. My friend had 2 tacos, a veggie (panela) and a steak (michelada) taco and raved about both of them. I had the chicken (enchilada) which was just average. I also had the taco joint salad with chicken, which was probably the best salad I've had at a Mexican restaurant ever. Everything was fresh and the dressing and chicken were both so flavorful, I didn't feel like I was being deprived of anything just because I didn't go the typical taco/burrito/enchilada route. Finally we topped it all off with margaritas, which were just strong enough to make one with dinner a perfect addition. A few tips: Street parking on Armitage is easier just east of Halsted. The restaurant will put your name on the list before you get there if you call ahead. Skip the guac (nothing special) and go for their more adventurous sides. Definitely check it out! Taco Joint has already been added to my regular restaurant rotation!
(4)Laura L.
The weird thing was, we loved everything but the tacos. And the tacos were just fine, but comparatively, and due to the name, it was a surprising little let down. We got the guac trio. I thought I'd hate the fruta, and my husband would love, but it was reversed. My favorite thing of the night (with those amazing chips). Queso fundido was good, but hubs wanted chorizo and I have a sneaking suspicion the mushroom would've been even better. Got the vegetarian torta which was good, but almost reminded me of an italian sandwich, weird. I got the enchilada and Wednesday special taco. Both were 'eh'. I gave husband the pork one, wasn't worth being uncomfortably full and very BBQy. Not sure what he got. Liked em, but would've preferred more apps! Pitcher of marg was delicious and very big. We had cancelled plans at a super pricey place so a price tag of $80 for all this seemed reasonable. Probably on a day we just wanted tacos it would've seemed a little high, but we did eat and drink A LOT! Trinida (I know I'm butchering her name) was one of the best waitresses I've had in the city. Super chill, friendly and personable.
(4)Jme D.
This is my favorite taco spot in Chicago--better than Big Star. The ambience is beautiful. They play the Strokes, Arcade Fire, and all things good. Order guacamole rojo and a couple of tacos. Everything is good, so don't overthink it. If you're really stumped, it's simple; start with a taco al pastor. Check out their margaritas too. My go-to is the Chile Mango.
(5)Joanne N.
Amazing tacos and service. Everyone has always been extremely attentive and nice, and I frequent this place. Favorite tacos: Estilo Baja and Ceviche (fish person) Can't go wrong with the Panela sandwich. $5 house margaritas on weekdays, need I say more??
(5)Patti G.
the best tacos. deelish!!!!
(5)Ralph S.
Taco Joint is the bees knees. First time going this week and I was impressed. The tacos have amazing flavor and are small enough that you can try multiple kinds. The perfect amount of meat on each taco that has been seasoned perfectly. With the small sized tacos, you may think it's going to get expensive. Well well well, let me tell you, they are all about $3 dollars each. That is what we call a steal people. The margs were very tasty but beware, you will suck them down fast and they will add up after awhile. 10/10 will go again
(5)Dan N.
Hands down, best tacos in the Midwest. Granted, I've not tried ALL of the tacos in the Midwest, but it'd be tough to get any better than these. Homemade tortillas, incredibly dynamic flavors and textures, and delicious options for both meat-lovers and vegetarians. If you're in Chicago, you can't miss going to Taco Joint.
(5)Justin G.
We used to come ever week until they took the fajita taco off the menu. Bring it back!!!!Great place to grab cheap delicious tacos and fun Mexican themed drinks. One if my favorite places in the city.
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