Taqueria Traspasada
3144 N California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618
Taqueria Traspasada Menu
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Address :
3144 N California Ave
Chicago, IL, 60618 - Phone (773) 539-4533
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
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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Jon D.
If you want a combination of quality, flavor and good price; you've come to the right place! Definitely sit down and try their black salsa, it's spicy and has a very unique taste. Try the Pastor Tacos/Burrito! This is a place you could go to at lunch or stumble through after a night of drinking and it will still leave you full, happy and most importantly not feeling ill the next day.
(4)tom p.
Went there because of an article in the Reader. I got the recommended dish...pollo milanesa....not so good...BUT....the black salsa was spectacular and the soup that is served marvelous. I want to go back to try camarones and lengua, and steak...I should've order those to test this place out the first time. I won't be making a special trip to eat there but if in the neighborhood will return
(4)Glenn H.
I really really REALLY like the burritos here. I am a carne asade fanatic and thus I enjoy endulging in this brown strip of meat wrapped in a tortilla. I am plain jane when it comes to my burritos (I only get cilantro with it at all times) so the flavor of the meat is the main event. It's a hit or miss depending on the time you get your food but overall the burritos are very good. The rice, to me anyways, is above average and is the only thing holding me back from giving it 5 stars. But overall if you enjoy a quick burrito this place is good so is the place next door....just saying.
(4)Brad V.
Excellent selection of authentic Mexican food. Great service and the complimentary chips and soup were a nice touch. The late hours make it a great option when most other places are closed. I will be making return visits to try as much of the menu as I can.
(4)Angie M.
Recently discovered truth: I will ride my bike over 11 miles round trip for Mexican food. God, I'm scaring myself. The good news is that you can roll into Traspazada in biking gear and a helmet and no one looks at you twice. Definitely NOT a dressy or fancy place. It's super divey, a little crusty and dirty, the A/C was broken during our visit and we were probably the only English-speaking white people in the joint. I take this all as good signs that the Mexican food is going to be good. It was. With such a surprisingly vast menu, it's hard to narrow down the field. Obvs one could go with the staple taco or burrito. Nah... I seem to always get that stuff. But a torta? Hmm... sounds tasty, right? Especially when you can get it with ground beef, sour cream and avocado. Hell to the yes. I love a good torta. It's truly one of the greatest simple pleasures on Earth, but damn if it isn't ridiculously hard to find a good torta in Chicago. Traspazada just may have the best torta I've had in our fair city. The bread was perfect. The toppings were fresh. The beef was greasy and yummy. Yep. Pretty stellar. Honorable mention goes to the black salsa. Just eat it. I promise you'll love it. The only real issues are the service, which is so-so (c'mon, you're at a taco stand) and that free soup that's served when you sit down is dangerously similar to warmed up Spaghetti-O's, but aside from that, I'm a fan!
(4)Diana M.
Do not go here!!! I got food poisoning twice!! Unless you want to end up in the emergency room.
(1)Max L.
Really good authentic tacos, always over order because it's all so good and so CHEAP! Black salsa is amazing, perfect balance of heat and flavor. Fish taco's are HUGE, great with the red cabbage, onions, and a little bit of lime. You won't find any shredded yellow cheese, lettuce, or diced tomatoes on these tacos! Give it a try and I promise this will become a place you find yourself gravitating towards on a regular basis!
(5)Yegor P.
Good food nice prices I like it.
(5)Danielle D.
I love this Mexican Restaurant! The black salsa that they give out with the chips is delicious. Every time you dine in here, they bring you warm homemade noodle soup (which I have grown to love, as well!) and warm tortilla chips and salsa. I've enjoyed the fajitas, taco salad, enchiladas and burritos from here. My husband loves the carne asada and their bottled Mexican coke (so much better than the canned colas... health and taste wise)! If you are in the area, you should definitely check out this wonderful family Mexican restaurant.
(5)Erin Z.
Simple, fresh, fantastic, priced-right mexican. I too, like many other reviewers, are a big fan of the black salsa. My husband is a fanatic for their 'Beef Brain' burritos ... while I usually stick to less adventurous choices like the al pastor, or chicken. Regardless, you cannot go wrong with this place. One bonus is all burritos come with avocado and cilantro... while some other places will make you pay extra. One mild piece of criticism is the lack of parking.
(4)John B.
This is definitely on par or a bit above your typical corner taquiera . I was happy with the carnitas and asada tacos. Their salsas were good. HOWEVER they put mayo in the guacamole. MAYO IN THE GUAC. This tragedy of a decision makes my eyes tear with blood. Comprende?
(3)Cassie S.
Clearly I ordered the wrong thing. And I'll definitely be back to order something better. And hopefully update my review. Because I want to like this place. (and in fairness, we ordered off of the menu from the wrong place, so had I looked at the menu from here, I might ordered something different, or at least ordered what I wanted properly) Anyway, I had chicken tacos. And I really didn't like that the chicken was chopped up instead of shredded. Is that strange and picky of me? Perhaps. But it's true. And also they were marinated with sauteed onions and that went really strangely with the onions and cilantro on the tacos. Really strangely. But perhaps if I had ordered off of the correct menu I wouldn't have ordered onions and cilantro on the tacos... Who knows. Anyway, The salsa was really good. As were the tortillas. And the chips. And all my friends love it and I know they don't have bad taste. So I'll just have to come back and order off of the correct menu and then update my review to reflect a better experience.
(2)Stephanie M.
Even though the place creeps me out, the food is great.
(4)Emily M.
After so many years of not going there (Since I moved)..... We decided to try eating here again, and OMG! Their Steak taco was amazing! The Horchata is still oh so creamy, cold, and refreshing!
(5)Michael H.
A "Diamond in the Rough" I think would best describe it! It's located on that screwy intersection at Belmont/Elston but don't keep driving... Some of the best authentic Mexican Food in the area. Extensive Menu and everything is made fresh and you can tell they are using Quality Ingredients as well. Great chips and the "Black Salsa" is some of the best I've tasted/ great guys running the counter too! GTFJD
(4)Kyle H.
I was introduced to this place while recording at Electrical Audio nearby a few years ago. Every time there's a long wait at Kuma's or Hot Doug's, I skip it and come here! Unless you're truly in a hurry, order in for a nice big meal. Seat yourself, and you'll be served the Best Salsa in Chicago! No.lie. I asked the guy what Chile they used, and you'll never believe it- Jalapeno! Yes, this black-green smoky hot salsa served with chips IS THE BEST! If Rick Bayless were to bottle it (with his name on it) it would be a Best Seller! Also dining in, you'll be served complimentary soup with thin spaghetti noodles. This soup takes me back to how my own Mexican grandmother used to serve up a tomato-chicken broth spaghetti noodle soup. Nothing to write home about, but it warmed my heart how similar it was to Abuela's! Nothing is ever a fail on this menu, this last trip I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas, which wasn't even on the Menu. I just asked. Served in corn tortillas with plenty of cheese, the savory chicken was nicely chopped up. I've had better roja sauce, but not at these prices! Table service is with minimal handling, but the gentleman did ask how everything was. $9.95 for a No-Wait, completely filling, tasty lunch? Me gusta mucho!
(4)Sharina R.
This place has BOMB burritos. Not only do they taste good, they're super huge. The first time they messed up my order and I didn't realize it until I got home. We asked for chicken but we got steak instead. Being as we live too far away (30 min drive) to take it back, I sucked it up and ate it. It was pretty good for being steak. The second time around (yesterday) I had chicken. It was to die for. I've also tried their chicken tacos with everything on it. Also really good. The refried beans are typical but the rice is absolutely the worst Spanish rice I've ever had. It smells and tastes like some sort of fish. Being as I hate fish, and nearly any seafood, I was grossed out by it.
(4)Marie H.
This place rocks my socks. After our first visit my entire inner monologue went something like this...'Mmmmm, I am up and don't have to be to work....Traspazada?' 'Hey honey, you're home! Traspazada?' 'I feel like staying in and doing nothing, wanna pick up Traspazada?' Fantastico. You would be fooled by initial entry to this corner gem but don't let the ambiance fool ya. This is as close to authentic mexican as it gets folks. Their blacked salsa is to dye for, even the free chicken soup they bring you before the meal is great. We love the everything civeche (octopus, shrimp, white fish- glamour) and I am just crazy for the guac. At this point of the meal I am usually too full to go on, but worry not, I will persevere. Everything there is fabulous, including the wait staff. They also serve booze - it's like heaven at six corners.
(4)Frank R.
One of the better quick, authentic Mexican places I've been to. I found it as I drove past the ridiculous line at Hot Doug's. I ordered the carne asada taco meal, which came with two tacos, rice and beans, and a cup of soup, with a cup of cold horchata. My one friend ordered the same, my other the enchiladas verdes meal. Since there were three of us, I think they felt obligated to give us a pretty generous basket of chips. I read on yelp that their black salsa was worth a try, so we got a cup of that with chips. The soup was pretty good, but definitely a small sampler portion, which I was fine with. My tacos were great, and I usually am a burrito man, but they had everything you could want in an authentic taco: double soft corn tortillas, juicy strips of carne asada, sour cream, soft and creamy white cheese, and avocado, which was a huge plus. I threw on some of the smoky, flavorful black salsa, and it was great. I think my favorite thing though was the horchata, which was cold, rich, sweet, without being overpowering or stale-tasting. Definitely a nice little dessert. My friend also seemed to like his tacos and my other friend had no complaints about the enchiladas, although they didn't look that great to me. Regardless, decent prices and above the norm Mexican food makes this place a 4. Give it a try if you're in the area (it's pretty centrally located on Belmont and Elston) and it looked like they had a pretty extensive menu even though we were your typical white kids and stuck to what we knew best.
(4)Shirese L.
I have always loved Mexican food, but I have never had a favorite Mexican restaurant until now. I came in and wanted something a little different from what I always get at Mexican restaurants. I asked the cashier, waitress, and cook for some recommendations; they bent over backwards to oblige. I got a grilled chicken dish (sorry, I forgot the actual name). It normally isn't spicy but I asked for mine to be spicy and they did just that. While waiting for my entree, they delivered the chips and the most amazing chipotle salsa. They had five stars from that alone. It did not matter what the entree tasted like at that point--okay it really did. That was the best salsa that I have ever tasted. My entree, which was huge, came out. Now when you tell most places "spicy," they just make the dish hotter. Here, they know that spicy is more than just heat. They gave me some heat and spice. PERFECT! The chicken was juicy and the salad was crisp. By far the best Mexican food that I have ever tasted. I have tasted a lot.
(5)Brian P.
Black salsa. Pork tacos. Eat them, a lot of them.
(5)Joe T.
Delicious tacos!
(5)Erin P.
I ate myself stupid here and it was worth every bite! They have great home style tasting Mexican dishes. Also, believe the hype: the black salsa is a great as everyone says! Our server was fabulous , the food came up quickly and we left with tons of leftovers. Did I mention it is super cheap?
(5)Marco D.
Alright, I really like this place. It was recommended to me by a fellow yelper and I was really happy with the meal I received. I've been searching for a taqueria in the neighborhood that wasn't a burrito house. The food here is exceptionally fresh and well prepared. I purchased three tacos to go (chicken x2 and one chorizo). All were topped with only onion and cilantro which is a good sign because sour cream, cheese, and all of the fun fixings are really an american invention. These were the real deal, the chorizo was great and the food was no greasy at all. Also the salsa was fresh and had a good zing to it. I've found a new neighborhood staple!
(5)Mandi G.
Mexicans eat here. And the booze is very cheap. Chorizo for life!!!
(5)Amaliya L.
Ok. They won me over with the beef soup that I had the other day. They stole my heart with their chile relleno. My first visit....I made the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. This was to die for.
(5)Double L.
This place came highly recommended from a trusted Mexican source and even with those lofty expectations this place definitely delivered. Not only do they deliver the tasty Mexican goods they somehow manage to create the feeling that you are not actually on California Ave in Avondale but sitting on Revolution in TJ, sans the gun battles. We started off with a couple of quesadillas, both chorizo & Carne Asada, the chorizo is tasty for sure but we definitely preferred the Carne Asada. The table salsa they provide is really excellent as well. From looking at it I expected a really smoky, heavy flavor but that wasn't what we got at all, it was also nicely spiced. In addition to the quesadillas we got another dish, which I forget the name of but essentially it was a tortillas style flat bread with meat, beans, cheese and cilantro. Never had anything like it before and can't wait to go back and have it again. For $5 it really is a meal in itself too. We finished things off with a whole Snapper Diablo style was also was extremely tasty and a whole meal in itself. Cheap drinks and friendly service.
(4)Kristen W.
This place is incredible. GREAT steak tacos, insanely good salsa. The horchata is awesome and the service is fast. My eyes were bigger than my stomach- I ordered two steak tacos but instead filled up on the awesome (and gratis) chips and salsa. I could have easily just had one taco and it would have been more than enough. I agree with all the good stuff everyone is saying about this place. If you like Mexican food and are tired of searching for the good stuff in Chicago, you need to eat here.
(4)Jo Ann F.
Great little corner place for good food! BTW - if you don't know what real mexican tacos are; they are meat, onions, and cilantro (NOT containing yellow cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes) ;-) more can be added if you wish
(4)Christina P.
Great Mexican dive for awesome standards. Easy to get to, open late, and cheap.
(4)Edmund W.
I'm surprised to be first on this one. Quality food and drinks here for cheap. It's right on the corner of California and Elston and has great storefront seating. The atmosphere is really pretty thin, there's a jukebox, a monitor with soccer, a racing arcade game and a window into the kitchen. The booths by the windows are nice but the rest of the tables are plastic. The tables are big though so it would be good for groups. Everything about the food and the presentation felt very authentic to me. I know it is obnoxious to have a very white city kid tell you what authentic ethnic cuisine is....but I'll eat my hat if Traspasada isn't. I had enchiladas verdes with steak and a carta blanca. The cerveza was served with lime and salt on the side and was $3 (for an import i think that is quite reasonable). The enchiladas were delicious and spicy! the whole dinner was around $10 (I think lunch would cost you half that). Remember to pay at the counter. They also deliver with a minimum of $15 and are open pretty late every day of the week (until 1 or 2). The drink list includes cocktails and all the mexican favorites you'd expect. I know I didn't make the inside sound very nice but I think it would be fun to go for dinner and a few on your way out with friends. Since it's close to me, i'll be going a lot. maybe you'll see me there.
(4)Jenni Q.
A friend recommended this place and we decided to go only because we had already introduced him to some of the finest tacos on the southside and he knew what our standards would be (can you tell I don't have high expectations for northside taco joints? lol) I totally did not expect waiter service or the free soup (a clear tomato-based broth with tiny spaghetti) but both were great! We also got some free chips and salsa (not the usual red or green salsa verde - more of a black and green salsa) that were pretty good. My boyfriend got the ahogado (spicy pork) torta and really enjoyed his meal. I ordered the two steak taco combo which came with rice, beans and a salad. So the waiter asked my friend who also ordered steak tacos "would you like onions and cilantro on your tacos?" then he turned and asked me "would you like everything on your tacos?" to which I replied "yes" because I thought "everything" would be onions and cilantro. why would the waiter ask me one thing and my friend another? very misleading! so to my surprise when my tacos came out, it was covered in sour cream, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lettuce and a whole mess of other stuff. Despite all of the extra unwanted toppings (I ended up picking off most of it), I was still able to taste how juicy and flavorful the steak was! I rate every taco joint based on one thing and one thing only - the steak taco. and this place definitely lived up to its reputation (per my friend's review). I would definitely come back here again for the steak tacos but also because of the yummy homemade soup, chips and salsa. Such a great deal for great food in a surprisingly clean taqueria!
(4)josie w.
Great burrito & very reasonable prices!
(5)Timothy M.
The three best things about this place are the smoky Chipotle salsa, the view of the 6-way insanity that is the Belmont-California-Elston intersection, and the old school cabinet video games. Sometimes it's Street Fighter, sometimes it's not. The food is your average Mexican fare. If you're in the mood for some more basic, but much more solid food - head a couple blocks south to Zacatecana. But this place has booze and chips and Zaca doesn't, so choose wisely.
(4)Marc L.
This is one of my favorite places to grab Mexican food. You can usually tell if a place is gonna be good by the chips and salsa. Their chips are fresh and the salsas are awesome. The black salsa is insanely tasty, though not really spicy. They also have very good salsa verde, and the salsa roja has plenty of heat. They also usually give you small bowl of soup, which is pretty awesome. Ive had carne asada, cecina, and barbocoa tacos. All are great. They also make pretty bomb fajitas and tortas. The service here is super friendly, offering us chip and salsa refills, and bringing out more limes. I kinda want tacos now.
(5)Dan L.
Anyone who goes to a taqueria and orders chicken tacos is scraping the bottom of the menu barrel. Just don't do it. The fish tacos have a giant slab of very nicely fry-plate fried whitefish, I think it's tillapia. There's a nice thin crispy crust and it's never dry. As for other tacos carne-asada is good; the barbacoa is better. My mostly vegetarian friend likes the veggie tacos, but orders fish when they're on special. The real winner is the roasted jalapeno salsa that comes with the chips (also mentioned here as "black salsa"). It is the best taqueria salsa I've had in Chicago. Beats most $$$ restaurants too. Sit down so you get the chips, salsa, and the little bowl of soup. -1 for the TVs. Bring your tv-b-gone.
(4)Maggie P.
My sister-in-law had food catered from this place and it was delish! Husband and I were at a loss for choosing a place to go for a quick bite so we decided to check out Traspasada. I love Carne en su Jugo and I usually go to Mexican restaurants on the south side to get it. So happy when I tried it here and was not disappointed. This place has been added as one of our regular spots for a quick bite. Added bonus is that it's 10 minutes away from where we live. By the way, a lot of reviewers mention how good the black salsa is, believe the hype! It is one of the best salsas I've had!!
(4)Cecilia M.
My bf and I have been eating here for over 2 years. We work next door and across the street, so we end up here sometimes more than twice a week and we've never had a bad experience. The people who work here are super-nice, the food is always fresh, and it's quite inexpensive. We always order the same thing: one veggie burrito, no queso, no crema. It's the perfect size for us to share, and with a couple beers and the complementary chips (with amazing, garlicy-delicious black salsa), it's a satisfying meal for two for less than thirteen bucks! Cash only, and conveniently open til about 1am most nights.
(5)Lala S.
Large selection. Black salsa. Really solid! I wonder what took me so long to try this place out...
(4)Kate P.
Absolutely wonderful! My husband and I stumbled across this place a year or 2 ago when we wanted to go Hot Dougs but the line was insane. And honestly, it was totally worth it! Much better than expected. Friendly people and great salsa and tacos. I love that you can mix and match meals. And the price is great!
(5)Denise C.
Stop by this place randomly and now here I am spending the time going on Yelp to give them 5 stars. The bb salsa was amaze balls - so unique. My fiance got the steak chimichanga and it was delicious. Big and juicy. And oozing with flavor. I got the spicy pork torta. Also so good! The sauce it was covered in was perfect. The baby got a beef taco and refried beans. The lady was nice and accommodating. Overall. Great experience. I'll be back.
(5)David O.
Ordered through Grubhub and had the carne asada, Barbicoa beef, and pollo tacos. All very flavorful and well seasoned. I've only ordered here twice and both times my food was delicious. I especially love the Barbicoa beef tacos because it's hard to find a taqueria that makes it so tasty. This is my go to taqueria for tacos... Can't wait to try some of the other foods they make. Food came on time as estimated.
(5)Anne Marie W.
We got delivery from them for lunch, and we were really disappointed. We all ordered burritos con toda, but my girlfriend's came with only meat and veggies, no beans or rice. The other 2 of us got veggie burritos, and we thought they forgot the avocado because we didn't find it until we got to the very end of our burritos, where we each found one small piece of avocado. We also got chips & guac, but the chips were very stale (probably leftover from yesterday?) and the guac was pretty bland. Reading the other reviews, we were surprised to see that they are all so positive. Maybe we would have had a better experience if we dined in, but at least for delivery, this was a really disappointing meal.
(2)Christine S.
(NOTE: NOT the Ashland Avenue location; this is the location at California and Elston.) Found this place totally by accident and am soooo happy I did. Been coming back every time a taco crave hits (which is often), and I don't even mind that I have to take two buses to get here. Hands down the best tacos I've ever had. Sure, the carne asada and the al pastor tacos are ALL THAT, but what really blew my socks off were the pescado tacos. So flavorful, so delicious. Sure, you can opt for all the ups and extras to your tacos (sour cream, guacamole, etc.), but all you need are the no-frills option of onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. That's it. Don't muck it up. As many others have said, the black salsa is unbelievable. Crazy good. Take home an order while you're at it. Real Mexican sodas. Another yay! factor. No ambiance to speak of. Kind of a hole in the wall, which, if you ask me, are the BEST kind of taco joints. No bullshit upscale River North nonsense involving $5 tacos. Everything is reasonably priced. Opens early and closes late. You'll go home full, happy, and with a few bucks left in your pocket. And maybe salsa & chips in a to-go bag.
(5)Scott S.
Just moved to Chicago from Southern California and this place is legit; great salsa, tacos, and friendly staff.
(5)Lisa L.
I went here after finding out L'patron closed early last night. I had a serious burrito craving and Im glad I tried this place because it was delicious. I looked at the menu for five minutes (even though I already knew Id be ordering a steak burrito) and everything looked very authentic and tasty. you can get your burrito simply with onions, cilantro, and cheese, or loaded with all that and avocado, sour cream, tomato, lettuce, etc-- I chose the latter. Service was super fast and equally friendly. I'm happy to have another late night Mexican place close to home. Oh! And i saw a sign advertising that they now deliver. Uh oh.
(4)Sean G.
Moving to Chicago from Texas recently, finding a legit taqueria was high on the priority list. I've had a few solid places (typically of the 2am on a Saturday variety) but nothing that got me really excited. Well, I think we've found it. The variety, cost and quality are all impressive and ultimately led me to the 5 star rating. 4 types of great salsa, generous toppings of onion and cilantro without drowning (or hiding?) the main ingredients in sour cream or cheese. This is authentic, quick and delicious. Definitely recommend the pork, steak and chorizo. This place felt like home.
(5)Sean R.
In a way it's too bad the food here is pretty good because then I wouldn't be missing anything by refusing to come here again. The staff always seems to have a surly edge to 'em so I was already an infrequent customer as it was. But one of my deal-breakers that absolutely drives me over the cliff is when a business is closed during its posted hours for no apparent reason other than they don't feel like being open. Twice now I've come by a solid 30 minutes before closing time only to find the door locked, the "OPEN" sign turned off, and the staff either cleaning up or just sitting around. If you don't want to be open that late, then change your fking business hours. If I have to guess whether you'll be open when you say you are, it won't take more than a couple wrong guesses before I stop playing that game. The whole goddamned point of having posted business hours is to eliminate the "guessing" part.
(1)Den M.
Had dinner which consisted fish tacos, steak burrito and steak torta. Everything was good and customer service was nice. Black salsa complimented it all. Bathrooms were clean always a plus. The bill was very easy on the pocket. Be back real soon.
(4)Eric B.
A Mexican restaurant that delivers is a fine thing. Honest and true, and worthy of remembrance. On a cold wintry night, Taqueria Traspasada delivered me al pastor tacos and nachos in under 15 minutes. The fact that I live a mere block away makes it no less profound, or tasty. The al pastor tacos are overflowing with pork, nicely balanced with sweetness and tang. The pork lacks the slightly crisp texture of, say, Taqueria Moran, but is still quite good. The nachos were full of jalapenos and the crema was very fresh. I'm looking forward to making a dine-in visit, and my next late night craving.
(4)L S.
Was better than I thought it would be.
(4)Doug K.
Excellent food, good portions, the tacos have a lot of meat on them. The black salsa is awesome!
(4)Chris H.
This was a very good taqueria. I strongly recommend eating there if possible (instead of carryout) so you can get the complementary chicken noodle soup. I ordered the steak, pork, and fish tacos...all were very tasty, AND Affordable. One side note, they do have a Ms Pac Man arcade console in the corner, so bring some quarters.
(4)Elise K.
After countless takeout ventures, I can say that I finally have eaten at the restaurant! The place is known for authentic, cheap food. It is both as well as quality. The food just tastes good. Start with the black salsa - they make it by roasting the tomatoes - it turns the salsa black, but the taste becomes amazing. If you eat-in you'll also get a little traditional tomato/noodle soup as a starter. I want to try the huge bowl of traditional soup next time! The tacos come in nearly every variety of meat and yes, they even have veggie tacos. I like the fish taco the best - it comes with red cabbage... oh so tasty! Try the horchata (rice water with cinnamon drink)... anyone will love it.
(4)William T.
This is my favorite place for Saturday menudo, all of their other mexican food there including burittos and enchiladas are very solid. Some Saturday's they have a red Pozole that is 5 stars. It is also a great place for a late night burrito.
(4)Ari R.
I was so excited to try this place but I placed an order over the phone and they said 45min. 1.5 hrs later no phone call, no buzzer. Called to check on the order ( Will note I wasn't being a jerk I made sure I was polite on the phone because I thought they were backed up and you should never be mean to someone bringing u food) and they said the driver called and there was no response and he had the driver come back. I said I was by the phone the whole time and they hung up on me. I . I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who actually wants food to be delivered when ordering delivery. Very disappointed and I wouldn't want someone else to be as hungry as I am right now.
(1)Ryan B.
Pretty good Mexican fare on the level of most taquerias in the city. Nothing exceptional or mentionable. To be specific, the asadas weren't greasy or chewy but not overly flavorful. Piccadillo was a little greasy but tasty. I think the tacos are better than the burritos and I did enjoy my tostada.
(3)Chris S.
Very flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive.
(4)Cathy N.
Ordered delivery from this place based on reviews. I was always sceptical of this place since I live in the neighborhood and the outside doesn't look that great. The food was fresh and tasty. As all others said the black salsa is really good. I had the pork taco and the Tilapia taco. Both were good, but I preferred the Tilapia taco better. I don't eat much meat though. My husband had the chicken burrito and said it was good as well. We usually drive to pick up take out Mexican since most places don't deliver, but this will be our new go to place. Looking forward to trying some other dishes. Cash only. Food was delivered within 40 mins.
(4)Alexa H.
I can't review anything besides the carne asana burritos because I can't stop eating them! I just moved to the area and while moving, one needs to eat. I have eaten many carne asana burritos in my life but few have such delicious meat, avocado and come with a green, garlicky salsa that I could slather all over almost anything. One day I will eat someone else from here and I hope it will be nearly as delicious.
(4)Abby K.
Everything you hope for in a taqueria. The salsa negro is, hands down, the most interesting and delicious salsa I have ever eaten. This is not fine dining, don't expect fancy. But go hungry, have some beers, and enjoy the food!
(5)Gary N.
Was in the neighborhood & need fast eats. Very good Tacos & service. Priced just right. Got me in & out on time. Thanks!
(4)Lior B.
The service was great. The burrito and tacos where extremely tasty. The Margaritas are refreshing and lovely. Head a great time. Highly recommend!
(4)Joyce T.
Bomb horchata! I haven't tried anything else.
(4)Jenny F.
Let me begin by saying I have eaten from this establishment twice in a single day because it's that good. When you walk in you can tell its a neighborhood dive kind of place, so just sit yourself down and a waitress will come and help you. First time I came I had their taco dinner (for lunch), one taco with al pastor and another with carne asada. Their rice and beans were not the best, (my fave rice and beans come from Tony's which is just further east on Belmont), and their carne asada was okay, but their al pastor is my favorite! It's seasoned well and cooked with grilled onions. They serve your tacos either with lettuce and tomato, or the more authentic way with cilantro and onions, on 2 delicious corn tortillas. They also give you complimentary soup (add lime!!) and black salsa. Their salsa verde though is delicious!! Then, since I was leaving on a jet plane, for a looong journey across the ocean to a land with no quality tacos or burritos, I picked up an al pastor burrito. OMG it's HUGE. You think Chipotle burritos are huge, well just try one of these, I dare you. Instead of being filled with rice, beans, and lettuce, this is like an Atkins burrito on crack. It's probably 97% meat. Delicious meat. With huge, beautiful slices of avocado. No rice, no beans. Needless to say, that alone provided three meals over my 24 hour journey. Tips: CASH ONLY. And you won't see Horchata on the counter, so just ask for it. It's so refreshing.
(4)Ivy D.
The Black Salsa. That's all you need to know. It's what keeps me coming back. I wish I could replicate it, I seriously could eat it for hours. The carne asada was delicious too. Also Its nice that they keep the mexican tradition of giving you complimentary Sopa de fideo before your meal. The prices are decent, I gave them 4 stars because parking kind of sucks around there.
(4)Jeremy A.
Place has some amazing mexican food and an absolutely incredible Carne Asada Chimichanga (Deadpool would be proud) The menu is filled with exotic meats that i havent even seen at any other places and ive been going to mexican joints in Southern California for most of my life. The black salsa is incredible, I think its roasted tomatillo but im sure they will never tell. We ended up going here after a few other places were too busy, next time were not making that same mistake. Service was great and it was dirt cheap, id be here alot if I lived in the area.
(5)M M.
Def a good place to eat drunk. Barbacoa taco was bland Lengua taco was fine Cabeza taco was almost not bland Carne asada taco was charred to perfection, but again, bland. Keep that salt shaker handy (and/or Patron) you'll need it.
(2)Jessica P.
My usual grocery store taco place was closed so my husband and I decided to check this place out with our 2 year old. We were greeted with some chips and salsa and some sopa de fideo (which my kid loved). I ordered a couple of tacos. One of asada and one of pastor and my husband ordered just the pastor. They were great. Will definitely be back soon.
(4)Jamie B.
Excellent tacos and burritos. Very fresh ingredients all white chicken breast fabulous steak tacos. This place is wonderful and we will definitely be back!
(5)Nikki L.
I placed a rather large catering order for my birthday and my guests were blown away! Their Carne asada is always juicy and flavorful and all the people that work there are super friendly. I love the soup you get at the beginning of your meal it's so simple yet delicious!
(4)Quentin G.
Ate here yesterday the best negro salsa and the steak and cecina tacos are the best in the city for a small place it's a hidden gem on the north side
(5)Cindy B.
Salsa de Negro outstanding Margaritas good to. friendly atmosphere Great ending to the Air Show at Navy Pier
(5)Erica L.
Hubby and I ate lunch here last Sunday. It was not too crowded and only one server was working the tables. The salsa is black and has a slight kick to it, but not too spicy for someone who can't handle the heat like me. The chips were thick and crunchy, the way I like them. You also get a free small cup of tomato noodle soup while you wait. We ordered guacamole, which was creamy with not too many red onions. I ordered three tacos (ranked in order of preference): el pastor, tilapia, and carne asada. The fish taco had giant chunks of tilapia. I didn't like the carne asada because it came as one whole thin slice of meat. It was tough and hard to chew in a taco so I ended up cutting it up. Hubby had the large beef tripe soup - it was too big for him to finish. They had Mexican coke which was a plus.
(3)Justin M.
Well, this love affair is over! I ordered a chicken burrito on Friday, and I barely recovered by Saturday afternoon. "Mud Butt" got the best of me for most of the night, and well into the next morning. I don't care how close or convenient you are to my condo, no more!! I couldn't even describe to you the pain...
(1)Mills S.
Please forgive me for straying Traspasada, I would rather risk dizzyness driving around looking for parking near you than eat at TBH ever again. I was being pure lazy one day, I wanted tacos, and I made the biggest taco mistake ever when I stopped at The Burrito House on Addison Street. I mean how bad could it be? OMG. It was beyond bad. TBH is absolutely gross and disgusting. No comparison to traspasada. Why would I ever want to eat at a mexican place with no black salsa? Seriously, I want to be buried with a little container of this black salsa. Love this place, love the carne asada, the fish tacos, love the soup they start you out with; especially on a cold day, and the waitresses are great. I saw some reviews that said they were rude, but I have rarely seen them act rude to anyone. I had an eye roll or two on my first couple of visits, but once I understood how the place works, service became pleasant. They may get a little testy with people that expect too much from a no frills taco joint, but 99 % of the time, they are great. They get your order right, bring your food out while it is still hot, they check on you for drinks and make sure you have plenty of chips. Add to that the awesome telenovelas playing on the tv's and what more can you ask for ? My favorite place to fall into a black salsa induced coma.
(5)jason t.
i just moved to the neighborhood and have been hitting up this place with increasing frequency. i shall break down the reasons: 1.) the only mexican restaurant in chicago i have found which serves sopa de albondigas. 2.) the salsa de chile arbol they bring with the chips. 3.) the guys that work there are like the nicest anywhere. 4.) the street fighter 2 champion edition arcade machine.
(5)Dylan G.
I wanted to like this place based on other reviews, but based on my first experience (i carried out) I gotta give this place a solid MEH. I got a steak burrito and a taco al pastor. The pork tasted alright, but was kinda gristley, and the steak had that over-seasoned taste that usually indicates low quality meat. Furthermore, while I was charged extra for a "burrito con todo" which is supposed to include avocado and tomato and whatever, all that was in there was meat, onion, and cilantro. I guess dining in is supposed to be better, so I'll be back for another try, but at the moment I'm STILL on the hunt for decent late night mexican...
(2)Ryan A.
I live three blocks away and this is the first time I tried this place. Excellent value for great food. Two of us ate, with beverages, and tip, for under $20. Highly recommended!
(4)Jeremy O.
I seriously think these might be the best tacos in the city... and the horchata is well above average as well.... I'm just hung up on the run down interior (hard to impress your friends beyond the food), the fact that it is cash only, and the location (only one site, and in a place with out many other entertainment options). But don't let that scare you from trying it out, based on the food alone, you will not be disappointed!
(3)Lindley E.
When I think of the chilaquiles I had here, I swoon. And break out in a cold sweat. I tend to like all kinds of chilaquiles - corn tortillas soaked in red or green sauce so it doesn't take a lot to please me. But the chilaquiles here? Yeah, I'd go back. We were craving chilaquiles. Usually I go to Taqueria Moran in the Logan to satisfy that craving, but I wanted to try something different...something with less cheese (I know, the blasphemy). Sitting down at brunch hour on a Saturday, service was fast and there was no waiting. We were served chips and a fabulous salsa. As soon as we placed our order we were served small bowls of alphabet vegetable soup in a styrofoam bowl(??!!!). My dining companion found this fabulous and amusing and took several pictures of it. Chilaquiles soon followed. For $1.00 you can add your choice of meat to your order, and ours arrived covered in a very tasty layer of chicken. I had the red, MDC had the green. Both were relatively cheese-less, which thrilled me, as the ooey gooey versions usually leave me with a food hangover. In true Mexican meal style, the chilaquiles arrived with beans and rice, so there was no chance we were leaving there on an empty stomach. As soon as our plates were cleared, MDC looked up at me and, with a broad smile across her face, suggested we drive up the street to Hot Doug's for a duck fat fries and encased meat dessert. Luckily for us, the line was too long, so instead of needing to spend the rest of the day in the bathroom, we both just patted our bellies with satisfaction.
(4)Ryan K.
Favorite Mexican joint in the city.... Tips: - Cecina taco with cilantro and onion. Don't get cute and fuck this up. - They aren't exactly excited to refill your water 6 times. Just get up and do it yourself. - Cash only...so stupid. - Just ask nicely and they will give you more chips/salsa.
(5)Alisha A.
This is one of Chicago's best kept secrets! It's in my neighborhood so I visit it.. oh... about twice a week. The burritos are amazing and the chips and salsa are some of the best I've ever had! Plus, their prices are great! I can get full on $5! I'm crazy about Mexican food so this place is a personal favorite of mine! Useful information: There is neighborhood parking or you could take the belmont or california buses (where they intersect is where you would get off) They do deliver to the neighborhood, but only if the weather is nice and they aren't too busy. Also, there is a Hispanic grocery store right next door! And one last thing you need to know.. they sell cerveza!
(5)M. M.
Tired of waiting FOREVER at Kuma's for a goddamned CHANCE to sit down to a HAMBURGER and FRIES? How long have you been waiting? An hour and a half? Are you retarded or what? Perhaps it's time you found some new friends... here's a way to figure out if any of the suckers waiting with you for Kuma's to allow you to eat their so-so food have any sense: suggest that you bail on that trendy, overpriced burger dive and hop across the street to enjoy some excellent Mexican food that you can actually eat sometime before all the clubs and bars close! Taqueria Traspasada is an excellent local Mexican restaurant that serves up all your basics: tacos, burritos, tortas - plus wonderful dinners - I love the mole chicken! They have this excellent salsa that is made with what seem to be burnt chile peppers - very different, and delicious! Service is fast and the guys working the counter all night are friendly and engaging. Nice selection of Mexican beers that won't cost $$$ like the microtrends at Kuma's. Try the massive shrimp cocktail - it's very nice - the soups are excellent. Nice jukebox playing all your favorite Mexican and Sudamericano hits - and TVs seem always to be tuned to intriguing incomprehensible Mexican TV dramas or slightly more comprehensible soccer games. This place is open until at least 11PM every night during the week and much later on weekends. Kiss Kuma's dead-end Konga line goodbye and get yourself something spicy for a change! And it's a great way, as I said, to ditch those tattooed trendies you've been spending far too much time with! Tattoos? That is soooo 90's!
(4)Bev h.
this is hands down the best mexican i have had in chicago. starting with the roasted pepper salsa. it's almost too spicy for me, but i loved every minute of it. we went a little crazy and ordered insane amounts of food: guacamole, chicken huarache, chorizo quesadilla, and ground beef burrito. everything was fresh, cilantro heavy, and delicious! and they give you free soup (though it looked and tasted like spaghetti-o's. good ones). i'll be back regularly.
(5)Jessica C.
my favorite taco joint--and i'm so stuck on the tacos, that's all i've tried so far. i'd agree that the food they serve seems to be of rather high quality. if you like beef, try the cesina. my other go-to is al pastor--so tasty! guacamole is also excellent, fresh and flavorful. but whatever you do, don't miss the molcajete salsa. it may look strange because it's black, but you won't regret how wonderful it makes every bite. service both on the phone and in person is always exceedingly friendly. i see no reason to satisfy my taco cravings anywhere else.
(5)Jarod P.
A hidden gem. They have the best steak burrito I've had in the city (I advise getting it with only steak, onions, cheese and cilantro.) Basically anything with steak seems to work out well for me. I was hooked on the steak nachos for a while. I think their steak is marinated with heroin and rubbed down with crack rocks.
(4)Matthew M.
My favorite restaurant in aaaaalllllllllll the world. Consistent and inviting all hours of the day. I have been going here for 6 years and just to get there I must drive by 20 plus taquerias but they all a blur except for the take out spot on chicago and ashland most convenient and muy rapido to go spot in Chicago. When I move out of this city and come back I will be at traspasada No 1 within 24 hours! Best place in Chi a must have that set the bar in avondale far before Kumas or urban belly.
(5)Jeffrey V.
Everytime i eat here im usually a drunken mess, but from what i recall the food kicks ass. Do i need to mention service? I have never had good or bad service a mexi place. I don't really expect it. They don't care about me. They just want me to eat my burrito and get the fuck out. This place gets 5 stars because its there when im hammered and they never throw me out when im acting like a total dick.
(5)Celeste L.
Great Mexican food. I have only had tacos and tortas here but they were all very yummy. Got the courage to try cabeza today and it was very tasty, tender, albeit greasy meat. The service is very friendly, salsa is really spicy and the food is a good value for the money. Its a good sign when all the customers in there are Hispanic.
(4)Marsha C.
Have been here now several times and it has never been disappointing. The owner/manager is usally there and is very friendly. Still loving the black salsa.....get some to take home every trip. The chicken, pork, steak and ground beef tacos are excellent. So is the carne asada.
(5)baka t.
Traspasada is great. I usually eat here for lunch, and for take out only. Great tacos, enchiladas, tortas.... The steak easily beats la pasadita, prices are a little higher than most places, but you're paying for higher quality... I used to rave over la pasadita. Traspasada is now #1. Try it.
(5)Regine J.
I LOVE this place!!! Mostly, I'd have to say that the fellas who work there really give a good God damn, and they work they're asses off to please their customers. For that I make my fiance pay me for haircuts in tacos. At Traspasada....
(5)Cesar V.
It's okay Mexican food. Not disgusting, but nothing to write home about. I love tacos al pastor and often gauge a place by this. Somehow they ended up bland here, which is difficult to pull off if you know what al pastor entails. The salsa was very good, even if the chips were microwaved. It seemed clean and the servers were really good guys. Overall an average neighborhood Mexican place.
(3)Dude Q.
Not enough Mexican restaurants in the ol' Chi-town offer a Chiles Rellenos burrito, but this place does, and it's amazing! The best I've ever had! I think they put riccota or some kind of cream cheese in there, but it is superb.
(4)Kristina K.
I always walked or bussed or biked past this place and thought it was totally sketchy. Then my roommate was like, "you wanna go get tacos?" I wasn't really hungry, but I got one anyway. Goddamn. It was good. Now, I'm starting to crave it all the time. Definitely not as sketchy as I had originally thought. The salsa they send out is freakin' amazing, and the horchata is divine (though I can never finish one or risk a diabetic coma). And it's super cheap and 2 blocks from home. Now if only I'd discovered this place when I lived a block away....it's for the best, really. My digestive system thanks me for that.
(4)Nathan W.
I wan't to make clear right away that the food here is of a high quality. This taqueria is a bit misleading in that when you walk in it looks like a cafeteria or diner with those really cheap bench seats. But then there is actually someone to serve you with menus and even free chips & salsa. The steak chimichanga I had was LOADED with meat as well. On paper this place looks very good. What they need to do is take credit and have better seating. They also seem to do pickups, so maybe if I have a late night craving I'll do that next time.
(3)Brian L.
A wonderful example of how great Chicago's plethora of taquerias can be run, this joint offers an incredible mole salsa in addition to the standard salsa roja and salsa verde one will find at other establishments. Additionally, the carne asada and carnitas are both exceptionally succulent and, dare I say, juicy without crossing over into greasy. Very, very good burritos and tacos for the price, a true bargain. The building itself is hard to miss as it's located right at the Elston, California, Belmont intersection, street parking was fine after 7 p.m., but could easily be a problem during the day.
(4)Eric M.
In my search for the best 'authentic' tacos in Chicago, I can't seem to find anywhere that tops this place. It is one of those places that unless someone told you to stop in there, you would never know it really existed. Two things you must try as a first time patron: House hot sauce - Made with Char-grilled Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Garlic, Onions and Salt. Very simple, but quite possibly the best hot sauce I have ever had. (It's the black colored one you get when you sit down) Tacos - Go for the Carne Asada, Cesina (Marinated Steak), or Al Pastor. The Al Pastor is my favorite, but probably not the healthiest... get them with onions, cilantro, cheese and a wedge of lime. Perfect. Not much for atmosphere, but the food will make up for it.
(4)Michelle S.
I'm very picky of Mexican restaurants. I've run across so many that are very "wanna-be" and even though they may have crazy Mexican décor... the food is actually very bland and NOT Mexican at all. La Traspasada has become one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago (outside of La Villita or Pilsen). I know that just by looking at it - it wouldn't seem like much but their food more than makes up for it. Just by looking at the menu I was so happy to see "sopa de albondigas"," torta ahogada"... "chicharron en salsa verde"... DUDE!!! You never see those kind of dishes anywhere else... I actually felt kinda nostalgic! Even the salsa they first give you with chips is made "molcajete"-style... and it's actually spicy! Wow! Of course it will never taste like what my grandmother would make me or what I eat at my families' houses - but it was pretty good substitute. The place is clean - I've never had a problem with the service and the prices are definitely more than reasonable. I heart this place.
(5)jae s.
dude. i love this place. and i have convinced many others that they too must love this place. open late. food comes out quick. i usually call about 5 mins ahead and order for pick up. if you eat in, you get chicken soup and chips and salsa. the salsa is the best! i usually get standard stuff, tacos, tortas, and tostadas. and cant forget the horchata.
(5)Amy H.
I really wanted to not like Taqueria Trazpasada. Our service was HOOORRRIBLE. Like, the worst that I've ever experienced. We kept having to get up and go to the counter to ask for things...like our drinks...and a napkin (because you wouldn't need one when you eat a taco with your hands.) But then I bit into the al pastor taco...and the angels sang...and all was forgiven. I don't care if you treat me like crap Taqueria Trazpasada. Just keep feeding me that sweet al pastor meat!
(4)Benjamin J.
Came here once instead of Carniceria La Zacatecana just to try it. Wasn't bad, but I was unimpressed. My vote? Go to Zactecana instead
(3)Amaris G.
I questioned what I was eating throughout my visit. Horrible service and the food was not edible. Its unclear to me what the hype is.
(1)Emily H.
I love this place, Have been going here for years. the staff is great and so is the food. I recommended trying the black salsa and the nachos. Overall a great place for some legit Mexican food
(5)Gina P.
Best house-made salsa at Taqueria Traspasada, which is a must if you like great Mexican restaurants who practice consistency and balanced, authentic flavor. Go for the salsa alone and you won't be disappointed. Take it to go, it's totally worth it!
(5)Matt G.
Very solid birria and chivo tacos here, which are a weekend special. Right across the street from Beer Temple, so it's an easy 1-2 combo to grab some craft beers and tacos for an enchanted evening. The black salsa is amazing, better than Pasadita's and very addictive. The decor is fairly bare bones, but the food is authentic and cheap. The steak tacos at Carniceria Guanajuato next door are worth checking out as well, though I haven't been there in a couple years.
(4)Nikki L.
I placed a rather large catering order for my birthday and my guests were blown away! Their Carne asada is always juicy and flavorful and all the people that work there are super friendly. I love the soup you get at the beginning of your meal it's so simple yet delicious!
(4)Quentin G.
Ate here yesterday the best negro salsa and the steak and cecina tacos are the best in the city for a small place it's a hidden gem on the north side
(5)Cindy B.
Salsa de Negro outstanding Margaritas good to. friendly atmosphere Great ending to the Air Show at Navy Pier
(5)Jeremy A.
Place has some amazing mexican food and an absolutely incredible Carne Asada Chimichanga (Deadpool would be proud) The menu is filled with exotic meats that i havent even seen at any other places and ive been going to mexican joints in Southern California for most of my life. The black salsa is incredible, I think its roasted tomatillo but im sure they will never tell. We ended up going here after a few other places were too busy, next time were not making that same mistake. Service was great and it was dirt cheap, id be here alot if I lived in the area.
(5)M M.
Def a good place to eat drunk. Barbacoa taco was bland Lengua taco was fine Cabeza taco was almost not bland Carne asada taco was charred to perfection, but again, bland. Keep that salt shaker handy (and/or Patron) you'll need it.
(2)Ivy D.
The Black Salsa. That's all you need to know. It's what keeps me coming back. I wish I could replicate it, I seriously could eat it for hours. The carne asada was delicious too. Also Its nice that they keep the mexican tradition of giving you complimentary Sopa de fideo before your meal. The prices are decent, I gave them 4 stars because parking kind of sucks around there.
(4)Jessica P.
My usual grocery store taco place was closed so my husband and I decided to check this place out with our 2 year old. We were greeted with some chips and salsa and some sopa de fideo (which my kid loved). I ordered a couple of tacos. One of asada and one of pastor and my husband ordered just the pastor. They were great. Will definitely be back soon.
(4)Jamie B.
Excellent tacos and burritos. Very fresh ingredients all white chicken breast fabulous steak tacos. This place is wonderful and we will definitely be back!
(5)Erica L.
Hubby and I ate lunch here last Sunday. It was not too crowded and only one server was working the tables. The salsa is black and has a slight kick to it, but not too spicy for someone who can't handle the heat like me. The chips were thick and crunchy, the way I like them. You also get a free small cup of tomato noodle soup while you wait. We ordered guacamole, which was creamy with not too many red onions. I ordered three tacos (ranked in order of preference): el pastor, tilapia, and carne asada. The fish taco had giant chunks of tilapia. I didn't like the carne asada because it came as one whole thin slice of meat. It was tough and hard to chew in a taco so I ended up cutting it up. Hubby had the large beef tripe soup - it was too big for him to finish. They had Mexican coke which was a plus.
(3)Amy H.
I really wanted to not like Taqueria Trazpasada. Our service was HOOORRRIBLE. Like, the worst that I've ever experienced. We kept having to get up and go to the counter to ask for things...like our drinks...and a napkin (because you wouldn't need one when you eat a taco with your hands.) But then I bit into the al pastor taco...and the angels sang...and all was forgiven. I don't care if you treat me like crap Taqueria Trazpasada. Just keep feeding me that sweet al pastor meat!
(4)Benjamin J.
Came here once instead of Carniceria La Zacatecana just to try it. Wasn't bad, but I was unimpressed. My vote? Go to Zactecana instead
(3)Amaris G.
I questioned what I was eating throughout my visit. Horrible service and the food was not edible. Its unclear to me what the hype is.
(1)Emily H.
I love this place, Have been going here for years. the staff is great and so is the food. I recommended trying the black salsa and the nachos. Overall a great place for some legit Mexican food
(5)Gina P.
Best house-made salsa at Taqueria Traspasada, which is a must if you like great Mexican restaurants who practice consistency and balanced, authentic flavor. Go for the salsa alone and you won't be disappointed. Take it to go, it's totally worth it!
(5)Matt G.
Very solid birria and chivo tacos here, which are a weekend special. Right across the street from Beer Temple, so it's an easy 1-2 combo to grab some craft beers and tacos for an enchanted evening. The black salsa is amazing, better than Pasadita's and very addictive. The decor is fairly bare bones, but the food is authentic and cheap. The steak tacos at Carniceria Guanajuato next door are worth checking out as well, though I haven't been there in a couple years.
(4)Denise C.
Stop by this place randomly and now here I am spending the time going on Yelp to give them 5 stars. The bb salsa was amaze balls - so unique. My fiance got the steak chimichanga and it was delicious. Big and juicy. And oozing with flavor. I got the spicy pork torta. Also so good! The sauce it was covered in was perfect. The baby got a beef taco and refried beans. The lady was nice and accommodating. Overall. Great experience. I'll be back.
(5)David O.
Ordered through Grubhub and had the carne asada, Barbicoa beef, and pollo tacos. All very flavorful and well seasoned. I've only ordered here twice and both times my food was delicious. I especially love the Barbicoa beef tacos because it's hard to find a taqueria that makes it so tasty. This is my go to taqueria for tacos... Can't wait to try some of the other foods they make. Food came on time as estimated.
(5)Anne Marie W.
We got delivery from them for lunch, and we were really disappointed. We all ordered burritos con toda, but my girlfriend's came with only meat and veggies, no beans or rice. The other 2 of us got veggie burritos, and we thought they forgot the avocado because we didn't find it until we got to the very end of our burritos, where we each found one small piece of avocado. We also got chips & guac, but the chips were very stale (probably leftover from yesterday?) and the guac was pretty bland. Reading the other reviews, we were surprised to see that they are all so positive. Maybe we would have had a better experience if we dined in, but at least for delivery, this was a really disappointing meal.
(2)Christine S.
(NOTE: NOT the Ashland Avenue location; this is the location at California and Elston.) Found this place totally by accident and am soooo happy I did. Been coming back every time a taco crave hits (which is often), and I don't even mind that I have to take two buses to get here. Hands down the best tacos I've ever had. Sure, the carne asada and the al pastor tacos are ALL THAT, but what really blew my socks off were the pescado tacos. So flavorful, so delicious. Sure, you can opt for all the ups and extras to your tacos (sour cream, guacamole, etc.), but all you need are the no-frills option of onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. That's it. Don't muck it up. As many others have said, the black salsa is unbelievable. Crazy good. Take home an order while you're at it. Real Mexican sodas. Another yay! factor. No ambiance to speak of. Kind of a hole in the wall, which, if you ask me, are the BEST kind of taco joints. No bullshit upscale River North nonsense involving $5 tacos. Everything is reasonably priced. Opens early and closes late. You'll go home full, happy, and with a few bucks left in your pocket. And maybe salsa & chips in a to-go bag.
(5)Scott S.
Just moved to Chicago from Southern California and this place is legit; great salsa, tacos, and friendly staff.
(5)Lisa L.
I went here after finding out L'patron closed early last night. I had a serious burrito craving and Im glad I tried this place because it was delicious. I looked at the menu for five minutes (even though I already knew Id be ordering a steak burrito) and everything looked very authentic and tasty. you can get your burrito simply with onions, cilantro, and cheese, or loaded with all that and avocado, sour cream, tomato, lettuce, etc-- I chose the latter. Service was super fast and equally friendly. I'm happy to have another late night Mexican place close to home. Oh! And i saw a sign advertising that they now deliver. Uh oh.
(4)Sean G.
Moving to Chicago from Texas recently, finding a legit taqueria was high on the priority list. I've had a few solid places (typically of the 2am on a Saturday variety) but nothing that got me really excited. Well, I think we've found it. The variety, cost and quality are all impressive and ultimately led me to the 5 star rating. 4 types of great salsa, generous toppings of onion and cilantro without drowning (or hiding?) the main ingredients in sour cream or cheese. This is authentic, quick and delicious. Definitely recommend the pork, steak and chorizo. This place felt like home.
(5)Sean R.
In a way it's too bad the food here is pretty good because then I wouldn't be missing anything by refusing to come here again. The staff always seems to have a surly edge to 'em so I was already an infrequent customer as it was. But one of my deal-breakers that absolutely drives me over the cliff is when a business is closed during its posted hours for no apparent reason other than they don't feel like being open. Twice now I've come by a solid 30 minutes before closing time only to find the door locked, the "OPEN" sign turned off, and the staff either cleaning up or just sitting around. If you don't want to be open that late, then change your fking business hours. If I have to guess whether you'll be open when you say you are, it won't take more than a couple wrong guesses before I stop playing that game. The whole goddamned point of having posted business hours is to eliminate the "guessing" part.
(1)Den M.
Had dinner which consisted fish tacos, steak burrito and steak torta. Everything was good and customer service was nice. Black salsa complimented it all. Bathrooms were clean always a plus. The bill was very easy on the pocket. Be back real soon.
(4)Eric B.
A Mexican restaurant that delivers is a fine thing. Honest and true, and worthy of remembrance. On a cold wintry night, Taqueria Traspasada delivered me al pastor tacos and nachos in under 15 minutes. The fact that I live a mere block away makes it no less profound, or tasty. The al pastor tacos are overflowing with pork, nicely balanced with sweetness and tang. The pork lacks the slightly crisp texture of, say, Taqueria Moran, but is still quite good. The nachos were full of jalapenos and the crema was very fresh. I'm looking forward to making a dine-in visit, and my next late night craving.
(4)L S.
Was better than I thought it would be.
(4)Doug K.
Excellent food, good portions, the tacos have a lot of meat on them. The black salsa is awesome!
(4)Chris H.
This was a very good taqueria. I strongly recommend eating there if possible (instead of carryout) so you can get the complementary chicken noodle soup. I ordered the steak, pork, and fish tacos...all were very tasty, AND Affordable. One side note, they do have a Ms Pac Man arcade console in the corner, so bring some quarters.
(4)Elise K.
After countless takeout ventures, I can say that I finally have eaten at the restaurant! The place is known for authentic, cheap food. It is both as well as quality. The food just tastes good. Start with the black salsa - they make it by roasting the tomatoes - it turns the salsa black, but the taste becomes amazing. If you eat-in you'll also get a little traditional tomato/noodle soup as a starter. I want to try the huge bowl of traditional soup next time! The tacos come in nearly every variety of meat and yes, they even have veggie tacos. I like the fish taco the best - it comes with red cabbage... oh so tasty! Try the horchata (rice water with cinnamon drink)... anyone will love it.
(4)William T.
This is my favorite place for Saturday menudo, all of their other mexican food there including burittos and enchiladas are very solid. Some Saturday's they have a red Pozole that is 5 stars. It is also a great place for a late night burrito.
(4)Ari R.
I was so excited to try this place but I placed an order over the phone and they said 45min. 1.5 hrs later no phone call, no buzzer. Called to check on the order ( Will note I wasn't being a jerk I made sure I was polite on the phone because I thought they were backed up and you should never be mean to someone bringing u food) and they said the driver called and there was no response and he had the driver come back. I said I was by the phone the whole time and they hung up on me. I . I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who actually wants food to be delivered when ordering delivery. Very disappointed and I wouldn't want someone else to be as hungry as I am right now.
(1)Ryan B.
Pretty good Mexican fare on the level of most taquerias in the city. Nothing exceptional or mentionable. To be specific, the asadas weren't greasy or chewy but not overly flavorful. Piccadillo was a little greasy but tasty. I think the tacos are better than the burritos and I did enjoy my tostada.
(3)Chris S.
Very flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive.
(4)Cathy N.
Ordered delivery from this place based on reviews. I was always sceptical of this place since I live in the neighborhood and the outside doesn't look that great. The food was fresh and tasty. As all others said the black salsa is really good. I had the pork taco and the Tilapia taco. Both were good, but I preferred the Tilapia taco better. I don't eat much meat though. My husband had the chicken burrito and said it was good as well. We usually drive to pick up take out Mexican since most places don't deliver, but this will be our new go to place. Looking forward to trying some other dishes. Cash only. Food was delivered within 40 mins.
(4)Alexa H.
I can't review anything besides the carne asana burritos because I can't stop eating them! I just moved to the area and while moving, one needs to eat. I have eaten many carne asana burritos in my life but few have such delicious meat, avocado and come with a green, garlicky salsa that I could slather all over almost anything. One day I will eat someone else from here and I hope it will be nearly as delicious.
(4)Abby K.
Everything you hope for in a taqueria. The salsa negro is, hands down, the most interesting and delicious salsa I have ever eaten. This is not fine dining, don't expect fancy. But go hungry, have some beers, and enjoy the food!
(5)Gary N.
Was in the neighborhood & need fast eats. Very good Tacos & service. Priced just right. Got me in & out on time. Thanks!
(4)Lior B.
The service was great. The burrito and tacos where extremely tasty. The Margaritas are refreshing and lovely. Head a great time. Highly recommend!
(4)Joyce T.
Bomb horchata! I haven't tried anything else.
(4)Jenny F.
Let me begin by saying I have eaten from this establishment twice in a single day because it's that good. When you walk in you can tell its a neighborhood dive kind of place, so just sit yourself down and a waitress will come and help you. First time I came I had their taco dinner (for lunch), one taco with al pastor and another with carne asada. Their rice and beans were not the best, (my fave rice and beans come from Tony's which is just further east on Belmont), and their carne asada was okay, but their al pastor is my favorite! It's seasoned well and cooked with grilled onions. They serve your tacos either with lettuce and tomato, or the more authentic way with cilantro and onions, on 2 delicious corn tortillas. They also give you complimentary soup (add lime!!) and black salsa. Their salsa verde though is delicious!! Then, since I was leaving on a jet plane, for a looong journey across the ocean to a land with no quality tacos or burritos, I picked up an al pastor burrito. OMG it's HUGE. You think Chipotle burritos are huge, well just try one of these, I dare you. Instead of being filled with rice, beans, and lettuce, this is like an Atkins burrito on crack. It's probably 97% meat. Delicious meat. With huge, beautiful slices of avocado. No rice, no beans. Needless to say, that alone provided three meals over my 24 hour journey. Tips: CASH ONLY. And you won't see Horchata on the counter, so just ask for it. It's so refreshing.
(4)Mandi G.
Mexicans eat here. And the booze is very cheap. Chorizo for life!!!
(5)Jon D.
If you want a combination of quality, flavor and good price; you've come to the right place! Definitely sit down and try their black salsa, it's spicy and has a very unique taste. Try the Pastor Tacos/Burrito! This is a place you could go to at lunch or stumble through after a night of drinking and it will still leave you full, happy and most importantly not feeling ill the next day.
(4)tom p.
Went there because of an article in the Reader. I got the recommended dish...pollo milanesa....not so good...BUT....the black salsa was spectacular and the soup that is served marvelous. I want to go back to try camarones and lengua, and steak...I should've order those to test this place out the first time. I won't be making a special trip to eat there but if in the neighborhood will return
(4)Angie M.
Recently discovered truth: I will ride my bike over 11 miles round trip for Mexican food. God, I'm scaring myself. The good news is that you can roll into Traspazada in biking gear and a helmet and no one looks at you twice. Definitely NOT a dressy or fancy place. It's super divey, a little crusty and dirty, the A/C was broken during our visit and we were probably the only English-speaking white people in the joint. I take this all as good signs that the Mexican food is going to be good. It was. With such a surprisingly vast menu, it's hard to narrow down the field. Obvs one could go with the staple taco or burrito. Nah... I seem to always get that stuff. But a torta? Hmm... sounds tasty, right? Especially when you can get it with ground beef, sour cream and avocado. Hell to the yes. I love a good torta. It's truly one of the greatest simple pleasures on Earth, but damn if it isn't ridiculously hard to find a good torta in Chicago. Traspazada just may have the best torta I've had in our fair city. The bread was perfect. The toppings were fresh. The beef was greasy and yummy. Yep. Pretty stellar. Honorable mention goes to the black salsa. Just eat it. I promise you'll love it. The only real issues are the service, which is so-so (c'mon, you're at a taco stand) and that free soup that's served when you sit down is dangerously similar to warmed up Spaghetti-O's, but aside from that, I'm a fan!
(4)Diana M.
Do not go here!!! I got food poisoning twice!! Unless you want to end up in the emergency room.
(1)Max L.
Really good authentic tacos, always over order because it's all so good and so CHEAP! Black salsa is amazing, perfect balance of heat and flavor. Fish taco's are HUGE, great with the red cabbage, onions, and a little bit of lime. You won't find any shredded yellow cheese, lettuce, or diced tomatoes on these tacos! Give it a try and I promise this will become a place you find yourself gravitating towards on a regular basis!
(5)Yegor P.
Good food nice prices I like it.
(5)Danielle D.
I love this Mexican Restaurant! The black salsa that they give out with the chips is delicious. Every time you dine in here, they bring you warm homemade noodle soup (which I have grown to love, as well!) and warm tortilla chips and salsa. I've enjoyed the fajitas, taco salad, enchiladas and burritos from here. My husband loves the carne asada and their bottled Mexican coke (so much better than the canned colas... health and taste wise)! If you are in the area, you should definitely check out this wonderful family Mexican restaurant.
(5)Erin Z.
Simple, fresh, fantastic, priced-right mexican. I too, like many other reviewers, are a big fan of the black salsa. My husband is a fanatic for their 'Beef Brain' burritos ... while I usually stick to less adventurous choices like the al pastor, or chicken. Regardless, you cannot go wrong with this place. One bonus is all burritos come with avocado and cilantro... while some other places will make you pay extra. One mild piece of criticism is the lack of parking.
(4)Glenn H.
I really really REALLY like the burritos here. I am a carne asade fanatic and thus I enjoy endulging in this brown strip of meat wrapped in a tortilla. I am plain jane when it comes to my burritos (I only get cilantro with it at all times) so the flavor of the meat is the main event. It's a hit or miss depending on the time you get your food but overall the burritos are very good. The rice, to me anyways, is above average and is the only thing holding me back from giving it 5 stars. But overall if you enjoy a quick burrito this place is good so is the place next door....just saying.
(4)Brad V.
Excellent selection of authentic Mexican food. Great service and the complimentary chips and soup were a nice touch. The late hours make it a great option when most other places are closed. I will be making return visits to try as much of the menu as I can.
(4)John B.
This is definitely on par or a bit above your typical corner taquiera . I was happy with the carnitas and asada tacos. Their salsas were good. HOWEVER they put mayo in the guacamole. MAYO IN THE GUAC. This tragedy of a decision makes my eyes tear with blood. Comprende?
(3)Cassie S.
Clearly I ordered the wrong thing. And I'll definitely be back to order something better. And hopefully update my review. Because I want to like this place. (and in fairness, we ordered off of the menu from the wrong place, so had I looked at the menu from here, I might ordered something different, or at least ordered what I wanted properly) Anyway, I had chicken tacos. And I really didn't like that the chicken was chopped up instead of shredded. Is that strange and picky of me? Perhaps. But it's true. And also they were marinated with sauteed onions and that went really strangely with the onions and cilantro on the tacos. Really strangely. But perhaps if I had ordered off of the correct menu I wouldn't have ordered onions and cilantro on the tacos... Who knows. Anyway, The salsa was really good. As were the tortillas. And the chips. And all my friends love it and I know they don't have bad taste. So I'll just have to come back and order off of the correct menu and then update my review to reflect a better experience.
(2)Stephanie M.
Even though the place creeps me out, the food is great.
(4)Emily M.
After so many years of not going there (Since I moved)..... We decided to try eating here again, and OMG! Their Steak taco was amazing! The Horchata is still oh so creamy, cold, and refreshing!
(5)Michael H.
A "Diamond in the Rough" I think would best describe it! It's located on that screwy intersection at Belmont/Elston but don't keep driving... Some of the best authentic Mexican Food in the area. Extensive Menu and everything is made fresh and you can tell they are using Quality Ingredients as well. Great chips and the "Black Salsa" is some of the best I've tasted/ great guys running the counter too! GTFJD
(4)Kyle H.
I was introduced to this place while recording at Electrical Audio nearby a few years ago. Every time there's a long wait at Kuma's or Hot Doug's, I skip it and come here! Unless you're truly in a hurry, order in for a nice big meal. Seat yourself, and you'll be served the Best Salsa in Chicago! No.lie. I asked the guy what Chile they used, and you'll never believe it- Jalapeno! Yes, this black-green smoky hot salsa served with chips IS THE BEST! If Rick Bayless were to bottle it (with his name on it) it would be a Best Seller! Also dining in, you'll be served complimentary soup with thin spaghetti noodles. This soup takes me back to how my own Mexican grandmother used to serve up a tomato-chicken broth spaghetti noodle soup. Nothing to write home about, but it warmed my heart how similar it was to Abuela's! Nothing is ever a fail on this menu, this last trip I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas, which wasn't even on the Menu. I just asked. Served in corn tortillas with plenty of cheese, the savory chicken was nicely chopped up. I've had better roja sauce, but not at these prices! Table service is with minimal handling, but the gentleman did ask how everything was. $9.95 for a No-Wait, completely filling, tasty lunch? Me gusta mucho!
(4)Sharina R.
This place has BOMB burritos. Not only do they taste good, they're super huge. The first time they messed up my order and I didn't realize it until I got home. We asked for chicken but we got steak instead. Being as we live too far away (30 min drive) to take it back, I sucked it up and ate it. It was pretty good for being steak. The second time around (yesterday) I had chicken. It was to die for. I've also tried their chicken tacos with everything on it. Also really good. The refried beans are typical but the rice is absolutely the worst Spanish rice I've ever had. It smells and tastes like some sort of fish. Being as I hate fish, and nearly any seafood, I was grossed out by it.
(4)Marie H.
This place rocks my socks. After our first visit my entire inner monologue went something like this...'Mmmmm, I am up and don't have to be to work....Traspazada?' 'Hey honey, you're home! Traspazada?' 'I feel like staying in and doing nothing, wanna pick up Traspazada?' Fantastico. You would be fooled by initial entry to this corner gem but don't let the ambiance fool ya. This is as close to authentic mexican as it gets folks. Their blacked salsa is to dye for, even the free chicken soup they bring you before the meal is great. We love the everything civeche (octopus, shrimp, white fish- glamour) and I am just crazy for the guac. At this point of the meal I am usually too full to go on, but worry not, I will persevere. Everything there is fabulous, including the wait staff. They also serve booze - it's like heaven at six corners.
(4)Marco D.
Alright, I really like this place. It was recommended to me by a fellow yelper and I was really happy with the meal I received. I've been searching for a taqueria in the neighborhood that wasn't a burrito house. The food here is exceptionally fresh and well prepared. I purchased three tacos to go (chicken x2 and one chorizo). All were topped with only onion and cilantro which is a good sign because sour cream, cheese, and all of the fun fixings are really an american invention. These were the real deal, the chorizo was great and the food was no greasy at all. Also the salsa was fresh and had a good zing to it. I've found a new neighborhood staple!
(5)Frank R.
One of the better quick, authentic Mexican places I've been to. I found it as I drove past the ridiculous line at Hot Doug's. I ordered the carne asada taco meal, which came with two tacos, rice and beans, and a cup of soup, with a cup of cold horchata. My one friend ordered the same, my other the enchiladas verdes meal. Since there were three of us, I think they felt obligated to give us a pretty generous basket of chips. I read on yelp that their black salsa was worth a try, so we got a cup of that with chips. The soup was pretty good, but definitely a small sampler portion, which I was fine with. My tacos were great, and I usually am a burrito man, but they had everything you could want in an authentic taco: double soft corn tortillas, juicy strips of carne asada, sour cream, soft and creamy white cheese, and avocado, which was a huge plus. I threw on some of the smoky, flavorful black salsa, and it was great. I think my favorite thing though was the horchata, which was cold, rich, sweet, without being overpowering or stale-tasting. Definitely a nice little dessert. My friend also seemed to like his tacos and my other friend had no complaints about the enchiladas, although they didn't look that great to me. Regardless, decent prices and above the norm Mexican food makes this place a 4. Give it a try if you're in the area (it's pretty centrally located on Belmont and Elston) and it looked like they had a pretty extensive menu even though we were your typical white kids and stuck to what we knew best.
(4)Shirese L.
I have always loved Mexican food, but I have never had a favorite Mexican restaurant until now. I came in and wanted something a little different from what I always get at Mexican restaurants. I asked the cashier, waitress, and cook for some recommendations; they bent over backwards to oblige. I got a grilled chicken dish (sorry, I forgot the actual name). It normally isn't spicy but I asked for mine to be spicy and they did just that. While waiting for my entree, they delivered the chips and the most amazing chipotle salsa. They had five stars from that alone. It did not matter what the entree tasted like at that point--okay it really did. That was the best salsa that I have ever tasted. My entree, which was huge, came out. Now when you tell most places "spicy," they just make the dish hotter. Here, they know that spicy is more than just heat. They gave me some heat and spice. PERFECT! The chicken was juicy and the salad was crisp. By far the best Mexican food that I have ever tasted. I have tasted a lot.
(5)Brian P.
Black salsa. Pork tacos. Eat them, a lot of them.
(5)Joe T.
Delicious tacos!
(5)Erin P.
I ate myself stupid here and it was worth every bite! They have great home style tasting Mexican dishes. Also, believe the hype: the black salsa is a great as everyone says! Our server was fabulous , the food came up quickly and we left with tons of leftovers. Did I mention it is super cheap?
(5)Amaliya L.
Ok. They won me over with the beef soup that I had the other day. They stole my heart with their chile relleno. My first visit....I made the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. This was to die for.
(5)Double L.
This place came highly recommended from a trusted Mexican source and even with those lofty expectations this place definitely delivered. Not only do they deliver the tasty Mexican goods they somehow manage to create the feeling that you are not actually on California Ave in Avondale but sitting on Revolution in TJ, sans the gun battles. We started off with a couple of quesadillas, both chorizo & Carne Asada, the chorizo is tasty for sure but we definitely preferred the Carne Asada. The table salsa they provide is really excellent as well. From looking at it I expected a really smoky, heavy flavor but that wasn't what we got at all, it was also nicely spiced. In addition to the quesadillas we got another dish, which I forget the name of but essentially it was a tortillas style flat bread with meat, beans, cheese and cilantro. Never had anything like it before and can't wait to go back and have it again. For $5 it really is a meal in itself too. We finished things off with a whole Snapper Diablo style was also was extremely tasty and a whole meal in itself. Cheap drinks and friendly service.
(4)Kristen W.
This place is incredible. GREAT steak tacos, insanely good salsa. The horchata is awesome and the service is fast. My eyes were bigger than my stomach- I ordered two steak tacos but instead filled up on the awesome (and gratis) chips and salsa. I could have easily just had one taco and it would have been more than enough. I agree with all the good stuff everyone is saying about this place. If you like Mexican food and are tired of searching for the good stuff in Chicago, you need to eat here.
(4)Jo Ann F.
Great little corner place for good food! BTW - if you don't know what real mexican tacos are; they are meat, onions, and cilantro (NOT containing yellow cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes) ;-) more can be added if you wish
(4)Christina P.
Great Mexican dive for awesome standards. Easy to get to, open late, and cheap.
(4)Marc L.
This is one of my favorite places to grab Mexican food. You can usually tell if a place is gonna be good by the chips and salsa. Their chips are fresh and the salsas are awesome. The black salsa is insanely tasty, though not really spicy. They also have very good salsa verde, and the salsa roja has plenty of heat. They also usually give you small bowl of soup, which is pretty awesome. Ive had carne asada, cecina, and barbocoa tacos. All are great. They also make pretty bomb fajitas and tortas. The service here is super friendly, offering us chip and salsa refills, and bringing out more limes. I kinda want tacos now.
(5)Edmund W.
I'm surprised to be first on this one. Quality food and drinks here for cheap. It's right on the corner of California and Elston and has great storefront seating. The atmosphere is really pretty thin, there's a jukebox, a monitor with soccer, a racing arcade game and a window into the kitchen. The booths by the windows are nice but the rest of the tables are plastic. The tables are big though so it would be good for groups. Everything about the food and the presentation felt very authentic to me. I know it is obnoxious to have a very white city kid tell you what authentic ethnic cuisine is....but I'll eat my hat if Traspasada isn't. I had enchiladas verdes with steak and a carta blanca. The cerveza was served with lime and salt on the side and was $3 (for an import i think that is quite reasonable). The enchiladas were delicious and spicy! the whole dinner was around $10 (I think lunch would cost you half that). Remember to pay at the counter. They also deliver with a minimum of $15 and are open pretty late every day of the week (until 1 or 2). The drink list includes cocktails and all the mexican favorites you'd expect. I know I didn't make the inside sound very nice but I think it would be fun to go for dinner and a few on your way out with friends. Since it's close to me, i'll be going a lot. maybe you'll see me there.
(4)Jenni Q.
A friend recommended this place and we decided to go only because we had already introduced him to some of the finest tacos on the southside and he knew what our standards would be (can you tell I don't have high expectations for northside taco joints? lol) I totally did not expect waiter service or the free soup (a clear tomato-based broth with tiny spaghetti) but both were great! We also got some free chips and salsa (not the usual red or green salsa verde - more of a black and green salsa) that were pretty good. My boyfriend got the ahogado (spicy pork) torta and really enjoyed his meal. I ordered the two steak taco combo which came with rice, beans and a salad. So the waiter asked my friend who also ordered steak tacos "would you like onions and cilantro on your tacos?" then he turned and asked me "would you like everything on your tacos?" to which I replied "yes" because I thought "everything" would be onions and cilantro. why would the waiter ask me one thing and my friend another? very misleading! so to my surprise when my tacos came out, it was covered in sour cream, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lettuce and a whole mess of other stuff. Despite all of the extra unwanted toppings (I ended up picking off most of it), I was still able to taste how juicy and flavorful the steak was! I rate every taco joint based on one thing and one thing only - the steak taco. and this place definitely lived up to its reputation (per my friend's review). I would definitely come back here again for the steak tacos but also because of the yummy homemade soup, chips and salsa. Such a great deal for great food in a surprisingly clean taqueria!
(4)josie w.
Great burrito & very reasonable prices!
(5)Timothy M.
The three best things about this place are the smoky Chipotle salsa, the view of the 6-way insanity that is the Belmont-California-Elston intersection, and the old school cabinet video games. Sometimes it's Street Fighter, sometimes it's not. The food is your average Mexican fare. If you're in the mood for some more basic, but much more solid food - head a couple blocks south to Zacatecana. But this place has booze and chips and Zaca doesn't, so choose wisely.
(4)Dan L.
Anyone who goes to a taqueria and orders chicken tacos is scraping the bottom of the menu barrel. Just don't do it. The fish tacos have a giant slab of very nicely fry-plate fried whitefish, I think it's tillapia. There's a nice thin crispy crust and it's never dry. As for other tacos carne-asada is good; the barbacoa is better. My mostly vegetarian friend likes the veggie tacos, but orders fish when they're on special. The real winner is the roasted jalapeno salsa that comes with the chips (also mentioned here as "black salsa"). It is the best taqueria salsa I've had in Chicago. Beats most $$$ restaurants too. Sit down so you get the chips, salsa, and the little bowl of soup. -1 for the TVs. Bring your tv-b-gone.
(4)Maggie P.
My sister-in-law had food catered from this place and it was delish! Husband and I were at a loss for choosing a place to go for a quick bite so we decided to check out Traspasada. I love Carne en su Jugo and I usually go to Mexican restaurants on the south side to get it. So happy when I tried it here and was not disappointed. This place has been added as one of our regular spots for a quick bite. Added bonus is that it's 10 minutes away from where we live. By the way, a lot of reviewers mention how good the black salsa is, believe the hype! It is one of the best salsas I've had!!
(4)Cecilia M.
My bf and I have been eating here for over 2 years. We work next door and across the street, so we end up here sometimes more than twice a week and we've never had a bad experience. The people who work here are super-nice, the food is always fresh, and it's quite inexpensive. We always order the same thing: one veggie burrito, no queso, no crema. It's the perfect size for us to share, and with a couple beers and the complementary chips (with amazing, garlicy-delicious black salsa), it's a satisfying meal for two for less than thirteen bucks! Cash only, and conveniently open til about 1am most nights.
(5)Lala S.
Large selection. Black salsa. Really solid! I wonder what took me so long to try this place out...
(4)Kate P.
Absolutely wonderful! My husband and I stumbled across this place a year or 2 ago when we wanted to go Hot Dougs but the line was insane. And honestly, it was totally worth it! Much better than expected. Friendly people and great salsa and tacos. I love that you can mix and match meals. And the price is great!
(5)Matthew M.
My favorite restaurant in aaaaalllllllllll the world. Consistent and inviting all hours of the day. I have been going here for 6 years and just to get there I must drive by 20 plus taquerias but they all a blur except for the take out spot on chicago and ashland most convenient and muy rapido to go spot in Chicago. When I move out of this city and come back I will be at traspasada No 1 within 24 hours! Best place in Chi a must have that set the bar in avondale far before Kumas or urban belly.
(5)Mills S.
Please forgive me for straying Traspasada, I would rather risk dizzyness driving around looking for parking near you than eat at TBH ever again. I was being pure lazy one day, I wanted tacos, and I made the biggest taco mistake ever when I stopped at The Burrito House on Addison Street. I mean how bad could it be? OMG. It was beyond bad. TBH is absolutely gross and disgusting. No comparison to traspasada. Why would I ever want to eat at a mexican place with no black salsa? Seriously, I want to be buried with a little container of this black salsa. Love this place, love the carne asada, the fish tacos, love the soup they start you out with; especially on a cold day, and the waitresses are great. I saw some reviews that said they were rude, but I have rarely seen them act rude to anyone. I had an eye roll or two on my first couple of visits, but once I understood how the place works, service became pleasant. They may get a little testy with people that expect too much from a no frills taco joint, but 99 % of the time, they are great. They get your order right, bring your food out while it is still hot, they check on you for drinks and make sure you have plenty of chips. Add to that the awesome telenovelas playing on the tv's and what more can you ask for ? My favorite place to fall into a black salsa induced coma.
(5)jason t.
i just moved to the neighborhood and have been hitting up this place with increasing frequency. i shall break down the reasons: 1.) the only mexican restaurant in chicago i have found which serves sopa de albondigas. 2.) the salsa de chile arbol they bring with the chips. 3.) the guys that work there are like the nicest anywhere. 4.) the street fighter 2 champion edition arcade machine.
(5)Dylan G.
I wanted to like this place based on other reviews, but based on my first experience (i carried out) I gotta give this place a solid MEH. I got a steak burrito and a taco al pastor. The pork tasted alright, but was kinda gristley, and the steak had that over-seasoned taste that usually indicates low quality meat. Furthermore, while I was charged extra for a "burrito con todo" which is supposed to include avocado and tomato and whatever, all that was in there was meat, onion, and cilantro. I guess dining in is supposed to be better, so I'll be back for another try, but at the moment I'm STILL on the hunt for decent late night mexican...
(2)Ryan A.
I live three blocks away and this is the first time I tried this place. Excellent value for great food. Two of us ate, with beverages, and tip, for under $20. Highly recommended!
(4)Justin M.
Well, this love affair is over! I ordered a chicken burrito on Friday, and I barely recovered by Saturday afternoon. "Mud Butt" got the best of me for most of the night, and well into the next morning. I don't care how close or convenient you are to my condo, no more!! I couldn't even describe to you the pain...
(1)Jeremy O.
I seriously think these might be the best tacos in the city... and the horchata is well above average as well.... I'm just hung up on the run down interior (hard to impress your friends beyond the food), the fact that it is cash only, and the location (only one site, and in a place with out many other entertainment options). But don't let that scare you from trying it out, based on the food alone, you will not be disappointed!
(3)Lindley E.
When I think of the chilaquiles I had here, I swoon. And break out in a cold sweat. I tend to like all kinds of chilaquiles - corn tortillas soaked in red or green sauce so it doesn't take a lot to please me. But the chilaquiles here? Yeah, I'd go back. We were craving chilaquiles. Usually I go to Taqueria Moran in the Logan to satisfy that craving, but I wanted to try something different...something with less cheese (I know, the blasphemy). Sitting down at brunch hour on a Saturday, service was fast and there was no waiting. We were served chips and a fabulous salsa. As soon as we placed our order we were served small bowls of alphabet vegetable soup in a styrofoam bowl(??!!!). My dining companion found this fabulous and amusing and took several pictures of it. Chilaquiles soon followed. For $1.00 you can add your choice of meat to your order, and ours arrived covered in a very tasty layer of chicken. I had the red, MDC had the green. Both were relatively cheese-less, which thrilled me, as the ooey gooey versions usually leave me with a food hangover. In true Mexican meal style, the chilaquiles arrived with beans and rice, so there was no chance we were leaving there on an empty stomach. As soon as our plates were cleared, MDC looked up at me and, with a broad smile across her face, suggested we drive up the street to Hot Doug's for a duck fat fries and encased meat dessert. Luckily for us, the line was too long, so instead of needing to spend the rest of the day in the bathroom, we both just patted our bellies with satisfaction.
(4)Ryan K.
Favorite Mexican joint in the city.... Tips: - Cecina taco with cilantro and onion. Don't get cute and fuck this up. - They aren't exactly excited to refill your water 6 times. Just get up and do it yourself. - Cash only...so stupid. - Just ask nicely and they will give you more chips/salsa.
(5)Alisha A.
This is one of Chicago's best kept secrets! It's in my neighborhood so I visit it.. oh... about twice a week. The burritos are amazing and the chips and salsa are some of the best I've ever had! Plus, their prices are great! I can get full on $5! I'm crazy about Mexican food so this place is a personal favorite of mine! Useful information: There is neighborhood parking or you could take the belmont or california buses (where they intersect is where you would get off) They do deliver to the neighborhood, but only if the weather is nice and they aren't too busy. Also, there is a Hispanic grocery store right next door! And one last thing you need to know.. they sell cerveza!
(5)Jeffrey V.
Everytime i eat here im usually a drunken mess, but from what i recall the food kicks ass. Do i need to mention service? I have never had good or bad service a mexi place. I don't really expect it. They don't care about me. They just want me to eat my burrito and get the fuck out. This place gets 5 stars because its there when im hammered and they never throw me out when im acting like a total dick.
(5)Celeste L.
Great Mexican food. I have only had tacos and tortas here but they were all very yummy. Got the courage to try cabeza today and it was very tasty, tender, albeit greasy meat. The service is very friendly, salsa is really spicy and the food is a good value for the money. Its a good sign when all the customers in there are Hispanic.
(4)M. M.
Tired of waiting FOREVER at Kuma's for a goddamned CHANCE to sit down to a HAMBURGER and FRIES? How long have you been waiting? An hour and a half? Are you retarded or what? Perhaps it's time you found some new friends... here's a way to figure out if any of the suckers waiting with you for Kuma's to allow you to eat their so-so food have any sense: suggest that you bail on that trendy, overpriced burger dive and hop across the street to enjoy some excellent Mexican food that you can actually eat sometime before all the clubs and bars close! Taqueria Traspasada is an excellent local Mexican restaurant that serves up all your basics: tacos, burritos, tortas - plus wonderful dinners - I love the mole chicken! They have this excellent salsa that is made with what seem to be burnt chile peppers - very different, and delicious! Service is fast and the guys working the counter all night are friendly and engaging. Nice selection of Mexican beers that won't cost $$$ like the microtrends at Kuma's. Try the massive shrimp cocktail - it's very nice - the soups are excellent. Nice jukebox playing all your favorite Mexican and Sudamericano hits - and TVs seem always to be tuned to intriguing incomprehensible Mexican TV dramas or slightly more comprehensible soccer games. This place is open until at least 11PM every night during the week and much later on weekends. Kiss Kuma's dead-end Konga line goodbye and get yourself something spicy for a change! And it's a great way, as I said, to ditch those tattooed trendies you've been spending far too much time with! Tattoos? That is soooo 90's!
(4)Bev h.
this is hands down the best mexican i have had in chicago. starting with the roasted pepper salsa. it's almost too spicy for me, but i loved every minute of it. we went a little crazy and ordered insane amounts of food: guacamole, chicken huarache, chorizo quesadilla, and ground beef burrito. everything was fresh, cilantro heavy, and delicious! and they give you free soup (though it looked and tasted like spaghetti-o's. good ones). i'll be back regularly.
(5)Jessica C.
my favorite taco joint--and i'm so stuck on the tacos, that's all i've tried so far. i'd agree that the food they serve seems to be of rather high quality. if you like beef, try the cesina. my other go-to is al pastor--so tasty! guacamole is also excellent, fresh and flavorful. but whatever you do, don't miss the molcajete salsa. it may look strange because it's black, but you won't regret how wonderful it makes every bite. service both on the phone and in person is always exceedingly friendly. i see no reason to satisfy my taco cravings anywhere else.
(5)Jarod P.
A hidden gem. They have the best steak burrito I've had in the city (I advise getting it with only steak, onions, cheese and cilantro.) Basically anything with steak seems to work out well for me. I was hooked on the steak nachos for a while. I think their steak is marinated with heroin and rubbed down with crack rocks.
(4)Marsha C.
Have been here now several times and it has never been disappointing. The owner/manager is usally there and is very friendly. Still loving the black salsa.....get some to take home every trip. The chicken, pork, steak and ground beef tacos are excellent. So is the carne asada.
(5)baka t.
Traspasada is great. I usually eat here for lunch, and for take out only. Great tacos, enchiladas, tortas.... The steak easily beats la pasadita, prices are a little higher than most places, but you're paying for higher quality... I used to rave over la pasadita. Traspasada is now #1. Try it.
(5)Regine J.
I LOVE this place!!! Mostly, I'd have to say that the fellas who work there really give a good God damn, and they work they're asses off to please their customers. For that I make my fiance pay me for haircuts in tacos. At Traspasada....
(5)Cesar V.
It's okay Mexican food. Not disgusting, but nothing to write home about. I love tacos al pastor and often gauge a place by this. Somehow they ended up bland here, which is difficult to pull off if you know what al pastor entails. The salsa was very good, even if the chips were microwaved. It seemed clean and the servers were really good guys. Overall an average neighborhood Mexican place.
(3)Dude Q.
Not enough Mexican restaurants in the ol' Chi-town offer a Chiles Rellenos burrito, but this place does, and it's amazing! The best I've ever had! I think they put riccota or some kind of cream cheese in there, but it is superb.
(4)Kristina K.
I always walked or bussed or biked past this place and thought it was totally sketchy. Then my roommate was like, "you wanna go get tacos?" I wasn't really hungry, but I got one anyway. Goddamn. It was good. Now, I'm starting to crave it all the time. Definitely not as sketchy as I had originally thought. The salsa they send out is freakin' amazing, and the horchata is divine (though I can never finish one or risk a diabetic coma). And it's super cheap and 2 blocks from home. Now if only I'd discovered this place when I lived a block away....it's for the best, really. My digestive system thanks me for that.
(4)Nathan W.
I wan't to make clear right away that the food here is of a high quality. This taqueria is a bit misleading in that when you walk in it looks like a cafeteria or diner with those really cheap bench seats. But then there is actually someone to serve you with menus and even free chips & salsa. The steak chimichanga I had was LOADED with meat as well. On paper this place looks very good. What they need to do is take credit and have better seating. They also seem to do pickups, so maybe if I have a late night craving I'll do that next time.
(3)Brian L.
A wonderful example of how great Chicago's plethora of taquerias can be run, this joint offers an incredible mole salsa in addition to the standard salsa roja and salsa verde one will find at other establishments. Additionally, the carne asada and carnitas are both exceptionally succulent and, dare I say, juicy without crossing over into greasy. Very, very good burritos and tacos for the price, a true bargain. The building itself is hard to miss as it's located right at the Elston, California, Belmont intersection, street parking was fine after 7 p.m., but could easily be a problem during the day.
(4)Eric M.
In my search for the best 'authentic' tacos in Chicago, I can't seem to find anywhere that tops this place. It is one of those places that unless someone told you to stop in there, you would never know it really existed. Two things you must try as a first time patron: House hot sauce - Made with Char-grilled Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Garlic, Onions and Salt. Very simple, but quite possibly the best hot sauce I have ever had. (It's the black colored one you get when you sit down) Tacos - Go for the Carne Asada, Cesina (Marinated Steak), or Al Pastor. The Al Pastor is my favorite, but probably not the healthiest... get them with onions, cilantro, cheese and a wedge of lime. Perfect. Not much for atmosphere, but the food will make up for it.
(4)Michelle S.
I'm very picky of Mexican restaurants. I've run across so many that are very "wanna-be" and even though they may have crazy Mexican décor... the food is actually very bland and NOT Mexican at all. La Traspasada has become one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago (outside of La Villita or Pilsen). I know that just by looking at it - it wouldn't seem like much but their food more than makes up for it. Just by looking at the menu I was so happy to see "sopa de albondigas"," torta ahogada"... "chicharron en salsa verde"... DUDE!!! You never see those kind of dishes anywhere else... I actually felt kinda nostalgic! Even the salsa they first give you with chips is made "molcajete"-style... and it's actually spicy! Wow! Of course it will never taste like what my grandmother would make me or what I eat at my families' houses - but it was pretty good substitute. The place is clean - I've never had a problem with the service and the prices are definitely more than reasonable. I heart this place.
(5)jae s.
dude. i love this place. and i have convinced many others that they too must love this place. open late. food comes out quick. i usually call about 5 mins ahead and order for pick up. if you eat in, you get chicken soup and chips and salsa. the salsa is the best! i usually get standard stuff, tacos, tortas, and tostadas. and cant forget the horchata.
(5)