Taqueria Traspasada
811 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
Taqueria Traspasada Menu
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Address :
811 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL, 60622 - Phone (312) 850-2069
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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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Amanda Z.
I believe, my darlings, this may be my Holy Grail taco stop. Seriously. I don't say that lightly. A teensy little store front with barely a stool on which to perch while you await your mexican delights, this place smells amazing when you walk in the door. Give your order, pay (CASH ONLY) and in a short moment's time, your taste buds will be treated to some of the best tacos this side of the border. Well, the best tacos that this chica has tasted... The al pastor tacos made my mouth cry with delight. (They do ask whether you'd like your tacos with cilantro and onions...a nice touch for any cilantro or onion haters out there.) The nachos, while not a ginormous portion, were perfectly layered with guacamole, jalapenos, and tender steak, and of course, queso. Seriously, kids, these are some serious tacos. And at around $2 a pop, not bad at all...Our grand total for four tacos, a gordita and nachos con carne was $20. A steal for the fiesta that is certain to occur in your mouth. So, next time I'm all up in some taco's business, you'll know where I got it.
(5)Mandi G.
Tacos cesina + chorizo quesadilla= Orgasm in mouth
(5)Delia C.
Uh-oh. El Taco Veloz might have some competition for my taco affections. Their pastor is just as good (if not just a teensy bit more flavorful) and their chorizo is damn good. Their burritos? When you get them without all the stuff in them, they're like EXTRA BIG tacos and that's really awesome for me. But their menu is a little bit more.. autentico, and I like that. (Yeah, I just threw in some high school spanish!) They deliver (which is always good) and I can't wait to try the birria (goat stew.)
(4)Josh H.
No reason to give it less than 5 stars, it is some good eatin'. Only been there once, but I'll definitely be back. I had tacos, at 2 bucks each, they were loaded with meat and loaded with flavor. I had the pork (best), steak (next best), and chicken (a little dry and might've been disappointed if that was the only kind I had, but the others were awesome). Refried beans were okay but not great. I'm so glad they're open late, and they deliver too.
(5)fred l.
Best tacos and menudo in Chicago! The goat stew is amazing too. Everything I have ever had there was very good. I rarely have had even one drink when I go there and still love it. Am surprised to see so many reviews by sefl described drunk women but... maybe its another reason to go there! :) Oh and... don't even try to compare this treasure to that ersatz taco stand over near D&D.
(5)Junior D.
Ok I have come to the conclusion that pretty much everything on the menu is good... The torta bread is so soft and they always split it in half for you which is awesome Hands down best Cesina tacos in Chicago as well! I love this place so much I visit it once a week.. Cheap good tasting Mexican fast food... and I mean really fast... Try there sugar made Coke in a bottle or some of there delicious horchata.. 5 stars for never letting me down..
(5)DJ S.
Our absolute favorite place for tacos! We love their rice and beans too. Awesome salsa and chips. The salsa is homemade Overall five stars plus! Cash only!!!
(5)Scott W.
Let me start off by saying.. I am not a huge fan of corn tortillas, or cilantro. But I went in Traspasada and in my opinion you can't properly review something if you switch up what they do as a food spot (I mean unless your allergic). That being said.. I was going to have corn tortillas, onions and cilantro on every taco I got. I ordered the chorizo, barbacoa, carne asada, and steak/onions. The guy at the register was a cool, nice dude. Liked that. I even got some entertainment from a guy waiting at the bus stop telling me his life story while I smoked a cigarette and bummed him one. He told me about how he got hit in the eye with a metal pipe, and some other crazy shit haha. Guy brought out my tacos, and I went home. Not gonna lie, I was indulging in some adult beverages.. shots of vodka.. before I went in this place and I was pretty drunk by the time I got home. Got the tacos and started owning them. All the tacos had the perfect amount of onions, and more importantly the PERFECT amount of cilantro. Cilantro is a herb that can easily destroy a dish if put on with a heavy hand. The green salsa was prepared well too. This place had some of the most tender barbacoa I have ever had in a taco. Both the steak tacos were really good. But my favorite.. CHORIZO. When I had been living at home I was forbidden to cook anything with chorizo cause my mom would say it smelled up the whole house and half our neighborhood could smell it. This chorizo taco made me so happy it's not even funny. I know that area has a lot of mexican restaurants, and I will probably try them all.. But I know I will be back to Taqueria Traspasada.. It's the kind of place you go to in a drunken late night haze and you don't care about anything but cheap, good food.
(3)Tom K.
Classic steak tacos with cilantro and onions on corn tortillas are excellent. Good and fast service. A favorite.
(4)Angie M.
The ground beef burrito I ate here last night at about 3am saved my life. Thank you, Traspasada.
(5)J J.
Genuinely Nice Service! Delicious Horchata. Awesome Salsa and chips. Tacos of excellence. I think the steak burrito is my favorite though. My go-to taco joint. Free cup of soup when you eat in!
(5)Quinn K.
One of my favorites! I always go here with my boo after a late night of working in the kitchen. The tortas are great. The sauce that comes with them is equally delicious. He loves the tacos and they always look really fresh and smell good. Now that it's cold out they have started to give out free soup with every order. I don't know what kind of soup it is but it has tiny noodles and tastes a bit spicy. I like it.
(5)Wayne B.
Food was quite good, but the service and the cleanliness is marginal for this type of establishment...
(3)Janet W.
This is another place that we've checked out recently due to yelp reviews. Per a yelper's recommendation, we tried "cesina" which they said is marinated steak, in burritos. The meat is very tender which is nice, with good flavor. We still have to go back and try more. (For those that speak zero spanish, cesina is pronounced se-SEE-na.) The guac has raw onions which seems typical, but I can't eat a lot of onions. Guac at Taco Velos (see my review) I believe is no or very low onions, so if I were in the mood for guac I'd get an enormous 'large' one from there. Guac at Traspasada is once size, but my husband likes it. It is one long, small place with bar stools, very clean and bright, and very heavily air conditioned. We get takeout, and I wear a jacket for while I wait.
(4)Dommy G.
Cheap, delicious, fast, and open late. Need I say more? The only bad thing I can say about this place is that it's cash only. That said, I LOVE IT. They even have birria (goat) tacos on the weekends which are DELICIOUS. My go to items: chicken tacos chicken tostados any gordita any burrito With the knowledge of Traspasada there is no excuse to even consider the travesty that is La Pasadita.
(5)Christine W.
I like their tacos even when I'm sober. I like them even better when I'm hammered. I always get the veggie burrito or the veggie taco- they got that down! I'm not a pork eater so I don't get their speciatly- the pastore. I can't decide if the steak taco is better than Pasadita- i would have to say it is close but I'm not ready to make that call yet. My downfall is the green sauce. I can't get enough and its always too much.....but totally worth drinking a gallon of water after!!! This is my taqueria.
(4)Carri A.
I have lived across the street from this taqueria for a full year and have never tried the food - until recently. And I have seriously been missing out. Veggie tacos are stellar. Veggie burritos are dynamite (they put large slices of avocado in there in addition to all of the other typical, delicious ingredients). Their guacamole is fabulous and I also really like the decor of the space. It's cute, plus the guys working are always super friendly. Oh, and the food is crazy cheap - especially for being so delicious. Come prepared though, it's cash only! And open late for your post-drinking needs.
(5)Sarah F.
Great fun! I was there after my head was fully enclosed in whiskey disaster but I can still remember the menu choice that I made because it was unique and really flavorful: Chile Relleno Burrito I just wanna ask: has anyone ever had that before? I spent 8 years in California and never did see that option on ANY taqueria menu EVER. Goodness gracious it was so delicious. I was drunk and I still remember how it tasted, that's how good it was. Plus, it was like, negative twenty six degrees outside and that Chile Relleno made me feel like I'd been brought down to some location under the equator. Not that the land beneath the equator is always warm... Spend some time in the mountains of Argentina and it's practically like Colorado... but I digress.... This place is actually called Taqueria Traspasada 2.
(4)Lois A.
I avoided this place for a long time and that was stupid of me. I'd let the Bermuda Triangle of La Pasadita down the street cloud my judgement after a really bad taco experience. Taqueria Traspasada, one million apologies...you rule!
(4)Patty S.
We had a craving for burritos and ventured onto Taqueria Taspasada. After this experience I'm sorry that it took me so long to discover it! I ordered the carne asada and my bf had the chicken. They ask if you would like cilantro and onions in the burrito and you want to say "YES!" I typically don't care for cilantro, but the way it compliments the meat I didn't want to stop eating. The green sauce it comes with was extremely spicy! It was tasty, just very spicy. The burritos are also the size of your head - well worth the price. I can honestly say that I'm glad this place is only 10 mins away and I can go there as often as I like! :)
(4)Kali J.
Best Mexican In My Neighborhood. I am SO sick of everyone raving about "La Pasadita". Yes there's 3 of them. And they ALL suck. It's not that you "can't find the good one". They're all just lame compared to Traspasada. I mean, don't eat here unless you're clinically depressed anyway, but they take out and deliver like nobody's business. Just today my car, which I've just invested $400 in, decided to throw up it's middle finger at me and make me walk to work. Well, Screw You Honda, Traspasada is on my Way To Work! And eating 700 calories in one chorizo-filled burrito will damn-schecky make it all better! No, there are no healthy options here. One entire flank of my ass is composed of their enchiladas. AND I'D DO IT AGAIN. AND I WILL! AND MORE CAPITAL LETTERS! Summation: fuck Pasadita, eat Traspasada.
(4)Dmitri G.
Food is pretty good. It's cash only however, but the owner let me have my burrito and I promised him I would bring the money the next day. Very nice of them. The guac is way too salty.
(4)Joshua W.
A tiny neighborhood type place--cash only, open late, and the veggie tacos are great. Rene that works here is super nice, too.
(4)Nik B.
This place was impressive! And very fast. It's a small, quiant in-and-out sort of joint with suprisingly delicious food! A couple minutes after ordereding, I was quickly served my 2 chicken tacos and 1 chile rilleno, and they threw in some tomato soup, which was mostly water, but had flavorful noodles in it. The tacos were great, there was a mix of sauted and fresh onions with cilantro, the chicken was moist and it was all garnished with lime. Also, the corn tortillas tasted really moist, almost as if they had been steamed. Delicious. This place is great, go here for a tasty break in your day.
(4)Christiana F.
YES! This is my local taco joint and they are the best. Great flavor and prices. I find myself comparing them to other places I try and they still beat them out....including some of those trending taco places....not going to mention names. But yeah, screw the fancy interiors and selection of whiskeys. I want tacos, in a bag, with a Jarrito, so I can take it home and chow down in peace.
(5)tom k.
Spicy goodness all around ... flavorfully awesome al pastor, carne asada, and chorizo. Everything was hot off the grill, with warm soft corn tortillas, and good . Quick service, cheap, open late ... what more could my non-sober a$$ ask for. Muchas gracias senor!
(4)Kara D.
Good food, great price, nice employees.
(4)Catlleya s.
i called 3 times to place an order but 3 different guys who picked up the phone was rude.they forgot an item 1 i ordered when i picked it up and to top it all the food is DOWN RIGHT AWFUL! i will never recommend anyone to come and try to eat there.
(1)Chris J.
This is the real stuff. I've been to a number of "authentic" Mexican taco places in the States, and this is probably the best one yet. My girlfriend had never had real tacos al pastor before, and so I'm glad this was her first experience. They were almost perfect; just needed the cooked pineapple to complete the authentic effect. She said again and again how delicious the meat was. The chorizo was fabulous, and the barbacoa was just so-so. I appreciated the kind and prompt service and the little cup of soup (red pozole?) served before the tacos. Real Mexican Coca-Cola (sugar, not corn syrup) helped complete the effect. I'll definitely go back next time I'm nearby.
(4)Dan M.
Tras has become my default taco supplier. I go there at least once every 5-10 days now. They have rehabbed the sit-down area of the restaurant and it's now much better (though still lunch-counter style). There is the obligatory flat-screen playing telemundo at a few decibels too much but the food is still great and the guys that work there are very friendly. In all honesty, they have the fastest take out of any restaurant I order from in the entire city. They don't have drive-through but it might as well be. You can pull up to the front door, call in your order and by the time you get out of your car and walk the 6 feet to the door your order is about 2-3 minutes from being in your hands.
(4)Sharon H.
LOVED this place! the food is awesome! (and i lived in mexico the entire summer this past year, so i think i get some clout with that). AND the service people are super fun... i always try to practice my spanish when i can, and the staff was really sweet and funny about it. :) i live a bit out, but it was totally worth the bus ride.
(5)Timothy O.
Lunch on the go? Check. Late night feasting? Check. Honest and friendly people? Check. Best burritos? Check. Credit Cards Accepted? Nope!
(4)Emil O.
Ate here for lunch the other day and had my standard two chorizo two carne asada tacos that I get whenever I eat mexican... and this was not my favorite.. the chorizo was fine but the steak was not quality meat!! a lot of fat and not even cooked enough.. Not going here again. I have my favorite spots that I'll stick to.
(2)Kevin W.
The search is over. You know a place is good when you come back 3 times in one week. This place blows Carbon and Pasadita out of the water imo. Try the goat soup if u come on the weekend - surprising how much meat was in there, great broth, slightly gamey bc it's goat so make sure u like that - also come w tortillas so u can make lil goat tacos with the meat too. Burritos 'con todo' (with everything) r near perfect - just the right proportions of meat, rice, and veggies - carne asada was my fav in the burrito - it makes u realize how much u get gipped at Chipotle on the meat. Tacos r also fabulous - I loved the chorizo taco, the beef tongue was tender but could've used some seasoning I suppose. The chicken was bland imo. The al pastor was very good but a little salty the last time I had it in the burrito, perhaps a one-off. They even have stuff like beef brain here too for the truly adventurous (it had a sweetbreads like flavoring and texture to it but wasn't better tasting than normal meat imo. The cesina (marinated steak) was not as good as the usual carne asada. Tiny tiny place, would seat maybe 8 ppl. Love the friendly service here. Good job guys.
(5)Jeff K.
Solid vegetarian tacos! They come with avocado and sour cream, along with all the other standard veggie ingredients. If you work nearby like I do, you should stop by for lunch; they're quick and the tacos are delicious.
(4)Steve K.
Really good tacos. I've only tried the Asada and Pastor. I'm really starting to be a huge fan of pastor tacos. Especially when they are this good. Tried this place twice and both times were very good. Generous portions and the food seems to be fresh. Could be my new go to place.
(4)Ryan K.
Best taco joint I've found in the city thus far.... Tips: - Cash only...so stupid. - Somewhere around my 20th visit, they stopped giving me tap water for free and made me buy bottled. I haven't been back since. - The location on Belmont and California will give you chips and salsa. It has more seating. And a more extensive menu.
(5)Jon F.
This is THE place for Mexican food delivery. I live in the west loop / river north and have tried a bunch of places. I am also from California and appreciate good, simple, Mexican food. The Al Pastor tacos are to die for. Much better than many more expensive places and THEY DELIVER. Ask for both the green AND red salsa. Stop reading this and order!
(5)Demetrio P.
I've tried Traspasada a couple weeks ago...and it was just okay. I'm always looking for good Carne Asada or al Pastor tacos, and overall I was unimpressed with the tacos here. Just okay... In summary, okay food, okay service, okay prices.
(3)Jodie S.
Cheap and delicious. Sober or drunk. However, it's cash only.
(4)Ben D.
I thought I would edit my review since I have become what I would like to think is Traspasada's best customer. I eat at this place ALL the time. I ate dinner or lunch here for an entire week more than a few times. I have become friends with one of the guys there and they have grown accustomed to my order and I no longer even really need to tell them what I want unless it is something different than what I usually get. Everyone that works here is incredibly friendly and if you go in enough, you'll be sure to make some friends. Okay, lets get to the food. Al pastor is incredible, probably my favorite tacos. Its also great in burritos. My rule of thumb is if you can put pastor in it, its going to be amazing. The carne asada, lomo, and vegetarian tacos are all outstanding. The lomo is my current favorite. Fajitas are awesome, I got these for carryout one night and I could smell them the whole walk home. Pork ribs with green sauce are tender and fall right off the bone. Quesadillas are made with the small corn tortillas, not the big flour ones, which is great for me because I have Celiac disease and cannot eat the flour ones. Flautas are generally pretty good depending on who is doing the cooking. Sometimes they are just a bit to crispy for me. Drinks, who needs anything more than a Sidral or a Mexi Coke. These are the two best sodas ever. I love Sidral. Bottom line -- go here, you won't be disappointed. Ever.
(5)M G.
Very good Mexican food that actually delivers to River North! FYI, River North has no good authentic Mexican Restaurants which is odd considering it is Restaurant Central. They have 2 different hot sauces, red and green. They give the green one standard with your order. The red one is awesome and spicy and I definitely prefer that one. However, everytime I order it with my delivery order I never get it!?! That's too bad, because the red sauce makes the food 100 times more enjoyable; but I'm not sure why they just won't put it in the bag with the food being delivered to my apartment when I specifically ask for it!! I hate when you order delivery and don't get what you ask for. There's no asking the waitress or going up to the counter to get what they've forgotten. I'm already paying extra for delivery and tipping you, I should get what I want. Heck, that sauce is so good, I'll even pay extra for it if you want me to. If you pick-up your food or dine in they give it to you, no problemo. I highly suggest doing take out here, dining-in is not really recommended as the atmosphere is less than inviting.
(4)Tariq A.
This is a hidden jem in a neighborhood that is packed with Mexican restaurants. Had this place not been so close to me I would never know what I was missing. You could find a more fanciful Mexican restaurant but you won't find anywhere better or more authentic than this tiny hole in the wall. I come here for the enchilladas. Very friendly, courteous, and welcoming.
(5)Gen T.
Definitely the best Taqueria around. They take it up a notch, its not your run of the mill taco place. I have gone here for lunch-late night and its always the jam. Goat soup is great, pork tacos my favorite. You just wouldn't want to watch me eat pork tacos at 4 in the morning.
(5)Tiff B.
They've got some solid tacos at this place. There's a ton of taquerias in this area but if you're a taco purist like myself, I'd recommend this one. I'm a fan of the chicken and steak tacos here. I'd hesitate to say they're the best in the city, but they're definitely good. I'd say they're on par with La Pasadita down the street. I took off one star because it's cash only and there's not much seating if you want to dine in. Service is always good and fast and they're generous with the taco toppings!
(4)Carly O.
I searched for "al pastor" tacos and this came up numero uno. Now, I don't claim to be any sort of expert on authentic al pastor tacos. However, I was unimpressed with the two I had yesterday. Now mind you, they were cooked fresh (the meat wasn't sitting in a container with foil over it), they were stuffed to the brim and garnished nicely with chopped onion and cilantro. I ordered to go, and they wrapped up 2 limes and gave me a small container of salsa verde...nice touch. But bottomline, maybe I'm just a lowbrow al pastor lover, but Traspasada would not top my list for this particular craving.
(3)Manja C.
4 1/2 stars. ¡Ay caramba! This no-frills, trailer-sized Mexican joint was stellar! Finally, Mexican food served the way it's meant to be not the way Americans think it should be. Homemade tortillas, super seasoned meats, chunky salsa (think: fresh pico de gallo), friendly & patient service, tchotchkes throughout, cheap. Took my dad, 13 yr. old brother, and boyfriend here -all claim to be Mexican food connoisseurs-and all left with a new place at the top of their list.
(4)Dave A.
Delicious, juicy and basic al pastor. Pretty quick and good service. Comfy place about the size of two trailers and I was the only one eating in when I was there (weekday at 9pm). Guy at the counter was really nice and appeared to be having a good time but seemed to be asked too often whether that unmarked door with a coat hook leads to a bathroom.
(4)Ganxta H.
Tha DRUNKBUSTA!!!!
(5)Eric M.
They have a nice diverse menu, and service was fast. I had something I'd never had before, which is like a lightly-warmed quesadilla, which was good. Service was friendly, and I love the little hole-in-the-wall feel of the place. I'd definitely go back if I lived in the neighborhood, but I'm not going to go out of my way to make a visit.
(3)Colt E.
Good..but not crazy good. The tacos and enchiladas we had were good, but didn't stand out to me in any sense. Staff was friendly. Don't expect to come here and sit down to eat, unless you're okay with sitting next to the door against a window (not good in the winter). Good for pickup and they do deliver. Get's surprisingly expensive to fill up on the food here though. $20 for two people for some tacos and sides seems like a lot to me.
(3)Jenna l.
Let me set the record straight. They do have guacamole! I've gotten it twice from them! Good little tacos. Coke with real sugar. Some crazy TV show is always playing, with lots of T&A and lots of fast spanish.
(4)Sasha H.
This place is great. They give you soup if you just order a taco and they are very friendly unlike the over saturated La Pasadita mentioned by other reviewers. I stop here on my way to work for a breakfast of huevos con chorizo and I stop here after the bar for some yummy el pastor to keep the hangover away. Thanks guys!
(4)Jen T.
Steak taco heaven! This is the real deal! What else could I ask for: quick, cheap, open late and the most important, Yummy to my tummy. Damn, I'm hungry just writing this review!!!
(5)rob c.
Get the Red Sauce!
(5)Rachelle G.
Hands down one of my favorite places to get tacos in the city. I go out of my way to get them here and everyone I bring tends to agree with me. I never order anything else other than carne asada tacos and I have to agree with another reviewer, the salsa verde here is definitely addicting and yes, I always put too much and drink water like there's no tomorrow after.
(4)tony c.
oh, yes. the salsa is fantastic. you know what else is? i'm sure it's been mentioned a million times but anything al pastor is amaaazing here. pretty sure it changed my life. a few of my favorite things: torta ahogada al pastor, chilaquiles are the bomb here, and so are the burritos. i just wish they threw a little more pork on the torta.. a little chintzy. but it's delicious so i forget all about it soon enough. you wont be disappointed.
(4)Chris C.
Best Tacos I've had in Chicago. Closest thing I've found so far to home (Texas) and very authentic. Tortas were good too.
(5)Brent D.
So far my favorite taqueria in Chicago. Good quick service, great selection, real coke and open late. All good qualities for a taco place. I generally stay with the Carne Asada tacos. The chorizo tacos are a bit dry for my liking. I highly recommend both the verde & roja salsas. They both pack a kick.
(5)Bill J.
Best Mexican food in the area hands down. I have only had the burritos, tacos, and quesadillas but haven't had a reason to venture away from these tasty favorites. The recently remodeled interior is not the ideal place for a romantic dinner but serves as the perfect background while you watch the kind gentlemen quickly twist up some of them thangz. Don't forget to grab yourself a Mexican Coke for the road. A day at La Traspadeez Nutz is a good good day. I'm ova there once a week.
(5)Jims L.
Yes, they DO DELIVER. (From 11-10). Give them a call.
(5)Christine U.
My new favorite place for tacos. Yes, even more so than Pasadita which I have loved for years. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the al pastor, the lomo, and the cesina. My only complaint is that they do not have the molcajete salsa at this location (Traspasadas #1 does have it), but I'm willing to overlook that because of the ample street parking and the quick service, and of course because the food is so good.
(5)Eric B.
Tras is the neighborhood go to for easy grub, late night grub, cheap grub, and all grub in between. I stick to the tacos, really they're the only thing you need. I could slay 6 to 30 of these in a sitting. Al pastor are the best, and a mexi-coke; but in lieu of, the carne asada are great as well. Staff are friendly, if not talkative, but go in enough and you'll certainly make some friends. And, they're open late!
(5)Chad W.
This is pure, simple, excellent Mexican food. The tacos and burritos are great, but I really enjoy the sopes. And the price is right.
(5)Mike V.
Everyone: THIS is THE spot for burritos. PLEASE, do NOT waste your time at one of the eight Pasaditas at Ashland & Division- this place is hands down just better. To be honest, I haven't really tried much else, but I've probably had about 150 carne asada burritos, and they're incredible- every time. They like to do them traditional with just meat, onion, cilantro, but they'll make them however you want. I typically choose to Chipotle-ize my burrito by throwing in a little rice, cheese, sour cream, etc.- they don't seem to be 100% onboard with the concept, but whatev. Remember- cash only.
(5)Chuck T.
Come on everybody, it's ok. Nothing great. I am eating it right now. The guacamole is bad, the avocados used were not ripe. The red and green sauces are excellent though
(2)Bob S.
Let's just review here: * Great food * Open super late * Ready in like two minutes * Inexpensive What's the problem? I don't think anyone we've taken here has ever been disappointed. I have to stop myself from regularly coming by for the chicken tacos. Quality is consistently good. Service is friendly. Most of the time we cannot believe how fast our order is ready.
(5)K J.
I have to say... I LOVE this place. It is my regular lunch stop at least once a week. The only down point is when I go, I have to pick up lunch for the entire office, everyone loves it. Let me state, I KNOW mexican food. I mean, I really know mexican food. I make a point to try every little taco joint that I pass by and after living in the Berwyn/Cicero area, I've hit ALOT of them :) The good things about this restaurant in no particular order: the sauce... both the green and the red and hot as hell and addictive. 2) they dont charge you an arm and leg when you add avocado, cheese and sour cream to your taco. 3) the chicken is WHITE meat in tiny little pieces of heaven... not that funky crap that bends in your mouth like a muscle 4) the steak tacos are perfectly seasoned and never chewy 5) the workers are always pleasant and dont mind my 7 separate orders with separate checks. This place is great. Go for the tacos, tortas, or tostadas
(5)Bobby D.
Despite being an on the side hole-in-the wall. The place does have actually good Mexican food. Except maybe for the skirt steak which, IMO, Was too dry & Not thick & hearty enough. But the enchiladas suizas are great, Though spicy hot, Even the refried beans can be spicy hot too, But delicious. The Chips & Salsa are worth a try too.
(4)Coco M.
Best taqueria on this strip of Ashland. The al pastor is sans pineapple, unlike some of the places around here--a personal preference, and I prefer it without, unlike Taco Veloz. The barbacoa is tasty, and if you get a side of beans they heat them up on the same griddle where they cook everything else, which gives them great flavor and destroys any hope of vegetarianism you might have clung to. The first time I went in they gave me and everybody else a free bowl of sorta spicy tomato noodle soup while we waited for our orders.
(4)Tony D.
Traspasada, you are like home to me! If only you were open 24 hours, but still, I'll take what I can get. Your tacos are hands down the BEST in Chicago. I'm a huge fan the Lazos as well, but this place is the call. Reasonably priced, great friendly staff and did I mention the Birreria? It's small, so not ideal if to dine in if you're with a crew of +4 people, but they are fast, fresh, and consistent. I'm here three times a week at least. I've converted vegetarians to lovers of the steak tacos, and this place is to blame. Oh and be kind and throw a couple of bucks in the tip jar. They'll take care of you next time. (ps Cash Only there's a few atms at the intersection though)
(5)Julian C.
Best tacos I've had in a long time. Al pastor, tripe, GOAT, delicious! Great salsa too. Skip La Pasadita(s) and go 4 blocks south.
(5)Kirby K.
Definitely my go-to spot for great Mexican takeout. Fresh and tasty!
(5)Grant M.
I actually joined Yelp mostly to review this place. I've lived in the neighborhood and frequented Taqueria Traspasada #2 for years, and the food is consistently great and Rene and everyone else that works there is fantastic. If you're near the intersection of Ashland and Chicago for any reason, do yourself a favor and take a quick taco break at Traspasada.
(5)adam e.
delicious tacos. they have 9 or 10 different kinds of meats to try. the al pastor taco is awesome. If u've never head cabeza (head meat) or lengua (tongue), try them here as they're really tender and flavorful versions. Great little taqueria with very friendly staff.
(4)Jason N.
Another place I found thanks to my fellow Yelp brethren. Made the drive down here on a late night. I ordered the Al pastor Huarache, the shell was good and cooked perfectly crisp, the pork was a tad fatty, but spiced well and tasty, and they used queso fresco along with the veggies, nice touch. It was good, nothing spectacular, and to be honest for $6 bucks you'll probably get a better value in a burrito. Also had the cecina sope, and the meat was forgettable, cooked well, but bland. My wife had the Carne Asada tacos and said they were excellent, I'll just get that next time. Wasn't overly impressed, but since it's late night and they do have a decent pastor taco sans pineapple, I'll be back. I'll just stick to the pork and steak tacos. Yes a 3-star review, can't give it 4 based off 1 visit. But don't be fooled, it's actually a 3-star review that I recommend and it's worth a shot for a late night Mexican fix.
(3)Yo U.
Taqueria Traspasada offers a small, if clean, dining space and friendly service, but its tacos are pretty average. I don't understand the excitement about this place.
(3)Steve S.
Meh. It was ok for what it was. I wouldn't have the pico and cilantro on my meal again. Wanted to try it because it's closer than the triplets, but I should have gone further north.
(3)Ian H.
Amazing chorizo
(5)Ana G.
I am Mexican and from this neighborhood. I have tried just about every Mexican restaurant in the area. If you are looking for tasty, no frills, quick, cheap food - look no further. The food is awesome and authentic!!! I highly recommend the tacos........ but you gotta have them with ceboya and cilantro.
(5)Ross K.
This place is the late night HYPE! People talk about how great La Pasadita is, but this little lunch counter style joint is where it is at for a late night taco fix. I have also patronized this place in a state of full sobriety, and have to say it hold up! One of the best Tacos in town. Check out the El Pastor!
(5)Jason L.
anything with their STEAK in it is phenomenal!!! the way they make it just brings all the flavors when eating: they grill the steak giving it that smoky, open flame taste!! steak burrito - everything w/out cilantro plus avocado HUGE burrito. horchata is pretty good there, just make sure its not frozen!! NOW THEY DELIVER!!!
(5)Fausta C.
you cannot go wrong with tacos al pastor and an imported coca-cola. i stopped in here with some girls after checking out sonotheque and i fell in love. bring this order to me now and i will reward you greatly!
(5)K B.
This place is great. Friendly, quick service at good prices. And the food is good along with some tasty salsa. One note it has been awhile since I have done burritos here and if I recall while they are fine I don't think it is Traspasada's strong point. I tend to do their tacos a lot and sometimes their enchilada plates.
(4)Trent M.
The hours may be questionable (seriously... 2am some nights, 12 some others) but the food is damn good. I can't think of a time when I ever had a bad meal here. Between the chili relleno burrito and the milanesa tortas I gained 15 pounds eating at this place (seriously... all from here) but every pound was worth it. Great salsa rojo as well.
(4)Tobia C.
This place may seem like it's not decent...but this is one of the best fast food restaurants in Chicago. I have been frequenting this no-nonsense joint for about five years. Two guys...one grill...and nothing but the best. It is cheap...it is fast...and it's open late. If you REALLY want to, you can sit down and eat. I highly reccommend trying this place when you have to wait in line for La Pasadita. No free nachos, however.
(4)Jeff L.
This place used to be just OK. After Rene took the reins they have improved in all ways. The steak tacos are amazing. Make sure to only get cilantro and onion with some limes on the side. The fish tacos are great too and come with a special sauce. Their new manager makes this place tic. I come in on a regular basis and it never disappoints.
(5)Dominique S.
Equivalent to a taco stand that's how small the inside is, but it works for a spot to grab some tacos at a cheap price and get them quickly. Must remember to bring cash, no cc accepted. Service: I called my order in and was told 5 min (super quick). The service over the phone was exceptional as he was patient and very nice. Food: I wish they labled the tacos bc when u order so many you want to be able to easily identify them. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and 7 tacos. Below are my reviews on each: Barbacoa taco - not impressed. Won't order this again. Beef taco - not bad, not great, no complaints. Fish taco - a really great grilled taco with pico de gallo. Was my favorite taco of the bunch. Pork taco - 2nd best taco. I would order it again. Steak taco - not much flavor, but was tender. Slight tweekn and this taco could be good. Glad I tried their food and if I lived closer would probably come back, but I don't live close by so probably will have to stick to pilsen area for my occasional taco fix. I still recommend anyone in the area to try it if looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat.
(3)Den M.
I wanted to try a steak chimichanga so after reading many reviews, decided on Taqueria Traspasada. Mann I was disappointed. I didn't like the flour tortilla cuz it was too thick, almost like bread. It wasn't crispy yet soagy. Steak had flavor but a bit tough for me. I also tried Al Pastor taco, was aight. Beef taco was ok. Customer service was good, better than my food:/
(2)Manuel T.
Un dia pace por la Chicago and Ashland y prove la delicious talpiqueña del restaurant la traspazada k rica
(5)Scott B.
I love late night food and tacos, they have both with many different proteins including goat and chile relleno. The service was quick and friendly.
(4)Adam M.
Awesome place, a true Authentic Mexican joint in the Chi-Town area. Most restaurants look to be "fancy" and "overpriced", well not Taqueria Traspasada, it's stuck to it's tradition of a small Mexican joint with AWESOME authentic Mexican food. The Carne Asada taco was beyond good! I also really liked the Chili Relleno taco. If you want amazing Mexican food and don't care about going to some crazy fancy place, then check out Taqueria Traspasada
(5)Michael S.
Food is great. Tacos carne asada has a great char to it. Fish tacos are beautifully tasty. The manager (guy at the register) is the reason I keep coming back. Owner should feel grateful to have him at the helm.
(5)Emily B.
I love this place. This is literally one of those hole in the wall - I hope there's room for me to walk in- places. So flavorful super authentic - love the torta ahogada or the enchiladas are #offthechain also! The rice and beans is ok, not the best but definitely a goodie. (Refried beans) I've been here a few times and they have never failed me!! There's usually street parking and most people pick up to go orders so if there's room- I suggest staying a while! Also, good sized portions- I always eat with my eyes :)
(5)Daniel C.
So since Taqueria Moran was a huge failure I said I was going to check out a new place for Mexican food so I wanted to check this place out. Been thinking about it for a while. They are a bit pricier then Moran but OMG they are so tasty. Ordered both steak tacos and ground beef tacos. I can't decide which is better. I ordered my mom the chorizo torta and she was happy with it. The service was great and quick. It's definitely my new go to place at this time.
(5)Gio D.
Service was good, despite the small inside area of the restaurant. The guy at the counter gave us free samples of a soup/stew with our meals. He came back and checked on us a couple times. The food was pretty good, too. I wouldn't say it was amazing, though. I had the taco dinner, brother had the enchiladas, wife had tacos as well. No complaints. Horchata was also REALLY good.
(4)Ashley K.
I love them! Always so delicious and the service is killer! I've been going for 8 years!
(5)Quentin G.
Another great taco place with awesome negro salsa the steak tacos are tender not fatty , small place but never over crowded and the guy taking your order is always friendly... customer for life
(5)Champion L.
Tacos were just ok, nothing special, al pastor tasted like chorizo, asada tacos were very bland. prices were high for these small ass tacos, people that say these are the best need to get out more an taste some real shit.
(2)Gregory G.
I've checked out a decent portion of the menus at the various Mexican joints in the area. I go here if I'm feeling like something with steak in it, which is usually in burrito form. This place has what I think are the best Carne Asada burritos in the area. Lots of meat, good balance of other fillings, cheese is nicely melted. I tend to find my staples at certain restaurants and stick with them... so for their steak burritos alone, I give it 5-stars. I go elsewhere for tacos though. Pastor is my go-to for tacos, and there are better to be had, plus the corn tortillas aren't always the best. They do have a lot of meat options, and tend to generously fill them, though. Lots of other things on the menu as well. Open late. Cash only.
(5)LaIndia M.
My third time here and it's always great service. Cash only joint, but they do have an ATM. Small restaurant more for take out but if you're lucky to grab a stool, it's always clean. Today I had the steak Chimichanga which is hard to find these days on the westside. It's a fried burrito. Perfectly fried, soft crisp, topped with cheese. The steak flavorful, not salty but even better with their brown salsa. My husband likes the green salsa because it's spicier. So if you prefer hotter get the green sauce. Oh and the horchata is so good, no fountain fake stuff here.
(5)Nicki P.
Total grab and go taco joint. No frills, but none needed. The food is cheap, tasty and quick. Guacamole is really fresh and perfect smooth consistency. The tostadas didn't travel that we'll but they tasted great so that's all that mattered. The steak was flavorful and moist, pretty much all you really need in a taco spot. I'll be back!
(4)Megan B.
My favorite local taqueria! I live a block away and don't know what I'd do without their steak tacos.
(5)Cindy W.
I was very underwhelmed by this place. I ordered the steak, pork skin, and beef brain (feeling adventurous at the time...). I wasn't impressed by the steak but the pork skin was packed with flavor. If you're into something fatty and hearty and aren't counting calories, I'd go for that option. The beef brain one was kind of gross. I'm all for trying new things but the consistency was rubbery and it was hard to shake the feeling that I was ingesting brain. But at least that's one more thing to check off my bucket list. Also, the owner or guy working the counter seemed a little pushy. I asked him for recommendations and he gave us a curt non-helpful answer... okay... won't make me like this place anymore. What's the rush really? Also, the prices seemed a little high for a hole-in-the-wall tacqueria dive place. I mean, I'd rather pay the $3 for a taco at the Big Star than pay $2.50 for a mediocre taco in my opinion.
(2)Aaron Jae M.
Took some out-of-towners (Canadians) to this spot because they wanted some good Mexican food. They were very pleased and so was I. The burritos are a good size and not too expensive. They of course had a vegetarian option for my friend which is pretty easy to get with mexican food.
(4)Pari P.
I just had sesos tacos - as in beef brain. That's hardcore $%#&. Talk about Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, I was feeling adventurous and bold with a slight fear of mad cow disease. Thankfully, I'm okay and still able to write this review for Taqueria Traspasada. The tacos are $2.25 each and look small but they are packed with flavor. I also ordered the al pastor and tried the chicharron. These are definitely a must try since both were delicious. The owner was kind enough to give us some birria (goat stew) and followed up throughout our meal. Taqueria Traspasada also does steak burritos well but this is the place to try something different. Bizarre Food fans should definitely put this place on their list to try.
(4)Ian B.
I'm astounded by the other reviews I've read of this place. Best pastor you've ever had? Amazing carne asada? Incredible hole in the wall taco joint? I pity you, friends! It might be great drunk food and I admit I was dead sober, but I ordered al pastor, carne asada, and suadero tacos and each was as bland as the last. The al pastor had a slight hint of what could have been flavor, but that was the extent of it. I could write a book on my love for al pastor tacos, but I'd leave this place unmentioned. With the ridiculous amount of taco places in the area, I'll cross this one off the list and peep the next block.
(2)Justin B.
Tried the al pastor, chorizo, ground beef, and flank steak. I would do the flank and the al pastor again, but the chorizo and the beef were a disappointment. Love the space, perfect for what I need for an on-the-run taco joint. But the price-to-value ratio was a little off to me, with $2.25 tacos that weren't that hearty. Generally, I expect three tacos to fill me up at most Chicago taco joints, and at Traspasada, I would have needed five (at least) to get out of here full. You have been warned. I will come back because this place is a five-minute walk from the house...but I'll focus on a couple of other flavors the next go-round.
(3)Bill G.
Place kicks ass. Great tacos, awesome salsa. And they have birria on the weekends. Highly recommended.
(4)Grace L.
Definitely the best Mexican food in Chicago
(5)Dalia M.
I drove past here and made a second attempt to get these tacos. They were open for lunch! Haaaaaaleluyah!!! Grabbed the al pastor and carne asada. Served incredibly fast, I sat alone and gobbled it up. The main guy was nice and quick. They have bottled drinks, bar style seating and affordable prices. No frills, good tacos.
(4)Sarah G.
Late night mexican food that is as tasty as this???? Really it was a dream come true and a dream I hope I get to have again very soon! Really though, if I am ever back in this area, even if I am not hungry, I will be coming here to get at least one al pastor taco or quesadilla or something. That al pastor was so so good! And that quesadilla was grilled to perfection with just the right amount of cheese and fillings, I didn't want to share any of it with Matt J. at all, but I knew it was the nice thing to do. I pretty much wanted to order one of everything on the menu there and you could tell that this place has it set of regulars too, since people would walk in and all of the staff would say hi to them, give them food hook ups, it was like being at cheers but instead being at a late mexican taco spot that felt as happy and homey as cheers. It is small inside, but hey, you don't need much space to enjoy food like this. Everything was so flavorful and it isn't as cheap as some places were in CA when I used to live there, but it was worth every dollar hands down and I will definitely be back. Maybe tomorrow. Taqueria Traspasada, will you be my friend forever?
(4)Kelley C.
I love this place, but they can never give you a total until they show up. Often, the order is not accompanied by a receipt, and the totals don't seem right. Tonight, our delivery guy showed up and told my husband he owed $40. To make a long story short, he just brought our money back after I threatened to call the cops. He actually tried to keep the tip, too. Moron. This kind of thing has happened too often with them. Bye bye, Traspasada.
(1)Naomi L.
Seriously for the past week I have been trying to eat at least two tacos a day. IDK what's wrong with me but I have been seriously looking to eat at a new Taco joint every day. No I'm not pregnant if that's what you guys are thinking I received a call from one of my friends that I haven't heard from in a while. We met up here because I told her "I'm feeling tacos and margaritas" so she suggested this place. We sat on the patio because this weather has been phenomenal (cross my fingers that it stays like this ). Their tacos were not the greatest; tasted just plain nothing special. If their Tacos were good this place would easily get a 5 star from me. I ordered a Mango and a Peach margarita and let me express how tasty those were! I mean I wanted to try every flavor but I had to drive my ass home. This is definitely a place to come for a nice flavorful and refreshing Margarita! My drink didn't lack a thing. It was made exactly the way I love it. Our check was really cheap as well so I will definitely return to try more of their drinks. Our server was really nice and attentive. She didn't bother us every 5 seconds but came around enough for us not to be smothered by her.
(4)R H.
By far this is one of my favorite authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago. Every time I come here I make sure I have a dinner here
(4)Danny W.
Cash only can sometimes ruin an otherwise amazing taqueria experience, but I'll be damned if I'm going to dock Traspasada for a two dollar transaction fee. This past midnight Mexican spot is legit one of the best in the city. It's small and slender, which is the exact opposite of what you'll be if you add them to your regular rotation. The menu is massive with many meats and mariscos to choose from to put between corn or flour tortillas. Amazing ones I might add. The talipia tacos are grilled and delicious and the steak deserves the name carne asada cause it's almost as good what you'll find in Southern or Baja California. Overall it's about as good as I've found in the Midwest after experiencing some of the best by the border.
(5)Tavi J.
This is a little hole in the wall place to grab some reasonably price Mexican food to go. I came here for a late night bite after going to Beauty Bar down the street. It was pretty crowded, but the line moves fast. I ordered the Carne Asada taco with cilantro and onion. Steak was cook good and flavorful, taco size was decent, and price point was okay. Definitely a late night bite stop when I'm in the area.
(4)Neil C.
Fantastic food, pretty friendly employees but they are more about getting down to business, fast service. Prices are also pretty fair, not the cheapest, but not too pricey. Under $3 for a taco. Cash only. Very small seating area. Their Al Pastor tacos are my favourite in the city.
(5)Cheryl I.
I literally live 2 minutes away from this place, and I like it! It usually has a few people in there eating in or ordering out. Its not anything insanely special but it's good for genuine Mexican home cooking. the staff is pretty friendly, and straight and to the point when ordering. As for food, I know they have a pretty wide variety on the menu but I've only ordered the tacos (al pastor, flank steak, and ground beef), my favorite by far is the al pastor! Remember this place is CASH ONLY!! if you forget there's a Bank of America across the street. all in all the prices are very reasonable and you can get a lot of food for a little cash.
(3)Sam T.
Three words: chicken taco salad Literally the best thing to eat, especially after a night of drinking. Their salsa and chips are yummy too
(4)Consuelo P.
Great tacos. A bit pricy for a cash only joint the place is really small so don't expect to sit and eat. A good place to stop by and pick up. Not always open
(4)Keely S.
This is my spot for tacos. Al pastor, chicken, tilapia, steak, on holidays, chicharon, cabeza. Fresh food and friendly service - this is my favorite place for takeout. And.. I take them for granted. And tinge past week or more I go by and it's closed. They've been closed for more than a week and I'm distraught. I want tacos right now. What happened? Where are they? Is everything ok? I'm worried!
(5)Alexander Z.
...PASTOR... OK now that we've got that out of the way, having lived literally dozens of feet away for 3 years, this is the single most thing I miss about my name old hood. I have yet to try any other taqueria in Chicago who's Pastor stacks up! Sober or drunk, the food is a top notch hole in the wall. With my homeboy always (usually) behind the counter, the service is always friendly, and this became the go to quick dinner spot for virtually all my friends coming here for their pregame dinner (which often led to the round 2 trip, post game drunken snack). While I almost always got the pastor here, both the chicken and steak are good quality and I'm partial to the Costillas en Res con Papas (sp?) You'll see a picture of it on the menu, love the grilled jalapeño. Short story long, and not just because I have more than a few drunken (and sober) memories, but this is by far my favorite pastor in the city and I will always keep coming back!
(5)Kripa P.
Loved the fajitas I got here! The guacamole was a delicious addition. Best of all, the staff is really nice and attentive. It's a smaller place so going with one to two people max would probably be best. The steak taco was a bit chewy, but my chicken fajitas were the perfect consistency. I would come back here for sure!
(4)John L.
This cash-only place is my go-to for authentic, tasty Mexican food. The first thing I noticed about this place is that the steak had a slightly charred, fresh off the grill taste that elevated my burrito. You can see them cook up everything fresh right behind the register, too. Al pastor is also really good here. Most underrated part of this restaurant--the sauces. Definitely don't forget to put the green and red salsas on before you take a bite (I always regret forgetting this).
(4)Salil G.
I think at least a 1/2 star is based on proximity to my home. Their service is always fast and nice. Food is well prepared and they know how to roll a good quality tight burrito. I'd take away a half star for cash only and another half star for their hot sauces. They're kinda blah.
(4)Eric A.
Holy crap - some of the best street tacos I have ever had. And I used to live in Southern California and currently live in Texas where taco joints are a dime a dozen. This place holds it's own again anywhere. I had a chorizo taco and pastor taco, and my wife the pozole. All amazing...
(5)Chris P.
Once again this place has done it again. Quick tacos and awesome taste. It has a 2 car loading zone for a quick pick up. CASH ONLY. Taco are reasonably priced. I guess their dinner menu could be priced better. They do have a dine in option for a few guest. Customer service is good.
(4)Cynthia R.
THE BEST tacos in Chicago. No doubt about it. The carne Asada and al pastor....the meat....seriously...I can't even write a full sentence. That juicy, flavorful deliciousness dripping onto my hands from the opposite side of the side I'm biting from. You don't even know how legit these tacos are...And the guys working there are really great as well.
(5)Kris A.
Definitely my go-to place after I get late night beer munches in the city. It's cheap, authentic, and the guy at the register gives you one of the best freaking service you'll ever have. One night my boyfriend was walking up the counter to ask for some salsa and he somehow read his mind and gave it to him without having to ask. Another time I was supposed have 9 cents back after paying but he gave me dime instead cause he knew how much of a pain in the a** it is to have a nickel and 4 pennies in your wallet. I know its not much but these little gestures really stand out to me when I receive service of any kind. It lets me know that they're working above and beyond their expected responsibilites.
(5)Jennifer C.
Fast, cheap, tasty. Food is ready in 10 minutes. Burritos seem to have this umami flavor. This place never fails me.
(5)Tucker P.
Yo, this place is the truth! You can't go wrong with any choice and the ambiance kills. I been driving around my city turning my nose up at all my local Mexican restaurants since I visited this one. I'd caution against the cow brain taco unless you know and like it. It's like boiled gizzard. I was feeling adventurous and added it to my order. The preparation was amazing, like everything else, but I was bummed I didn't order something different. That's no knock on the spot, though, I'm just an idiot. Peace from Akron, Ohio.
(5)Chad E.
I enjoyed some pretty killer enchiladas verdes here, complete with some wonderfully classic rice and beans. This is my litmus test, and I will say that Traspasadas passed with flying colors. This place is tiny. No tables, just some counters and stools, so don't expect a sit-down experience. What you can expect, however, is sit-down quality service. They were so attentive, kind, and friendly--and fast! Cash only. Salsa verde is tangy and a touch smoky, so hit that up.
(4)Miles W.
There are a lot of really good taquerias in this part of town and I've tried just about every one of them, but La Traspasada is my favorite! Most important to me, the pastor meat is done just right: a key indicator of a quality Mexican restaurant. And I am completely hooked on their pozole! It's so good: big portion, enough to feed a group of four. And they hook up all the fixings. La Traspasada doesn't look like much. It's TINY. Just a little counter with a few spots for dining in. So you're not coming here for a date. On the other hand, they do a great carry out business, and the young fellow usually working the front counter is always very pleasant and helpful. But if you can be bothered to stay and dine-in, La Traspasada will sweeten the deal by giving you a complimentary cup of their daily soup, which is always good. Highly recommended if you're looking for a high quality, low cost Mexican lunch or dinner! p.s. They've also got a location up at California and Belmont with a lot more seating.
(5)Eric C.
Excellent authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. In particular, the burritos are big and flavorful. No free tortilla chips, but salsa is included if you dine in. Ambiance is not a forte: not much room for dine-in (only two rows of bar chairs).
(5)James V.
This is one of my favorite places in the city to get Tacos. Arrechetta Steak tacos are #1 thing here in my book. So juicy and have a great off the grill and straight from mexico taste. A free bowl soup is always a great as well. If you have time please try the "Chile Relleno" taco/torta dinner--It is a dream! My friend always orders the Shrimp cocktail and it looks fabulous :-)
(5)Kurt M.
Very good quick eat tacos and the goat soup was fantastic. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. They have a variety of salsas - try them all.
(5)Angelo C.
We love this place!! It is our go to taco joint where you can walk in order exactly what you want and walk out. We normally keep it simple with steak or chicken tacos with cilantro onion and add some cheese. I have thought about trying something new, but it's such a tough decision when our go to items are so good! They only take cash so make sure to come prepared.
(5)Elina S.
Taqueria Traspasada has always been on my bookmarked list to try after a drunken city night at 2am when all you want is some greasy, comfort Mexican food. Well, since I'm old and these 2am rendezvous don't happen as much as they should in your mid 20's, I dragged my hubby out on a Thursday night around 8pm just for a casual dinner. Was it worth coming out from the suburbs? Probably not. However, was it super delicious and definitely worth trying? Yes. The place is a hole in the wall, this is not your trendy or colorful Mexican joint, this is literally perfect for that 2am stop before going home to fill up on crazy, amazing burritos. Anyways, despite the environment, the guys working there seemed super friendly. We ordered the Pastor Burrito which I had and my hubby had the Carne Asada Burrito and I must say the Pastor was much much better. It was a big portion for $6.99 and it came with a little soup and salsa. The burrito was full of veggies and flavor and the pork was super moist, tender and had so much flavor. Like it was really good to the point that I'm clearly still thinking about it. The only issue is that it's too far from our house. We need a place like this open super late on the weekends that is that good. Only annoying part about this place is that it's cash only so keep that in mind. And who wants to count exact change when you're super drunkie at 2am, when you'd rather have him swipe that credit card. Well, in any case, we will probably be back after a downtown rendezvous whenever that will happen, but we won't be coming back for a simple burrito dinner from the burbs just for fun. That, was a one time only wonderful experience. But taqueria, keep on doing what you're doing and expand to the burbs!
(4)Monika S.
Taqueria Traspasada - One of the best place for a delicious Taco and Burrito! The Burrito al pastor.here so delicious, I remember my friend said how she crave for Burrito whenever she recalls Taqueria Traspasada's delicious burrto. The Huevos rancheros here was also unexpected, we never thought that they serve a good tasting Huevos rancheros here.
(4)Moorish L.
I went for the birria hoping it would be good. I regret to say that it was average at best. Also had a suadero taco which was ok. The four is because it does seem like the rest of their menu is pretty good and its a pretty authentic place. Worth to check it out.
(4)Armand K.
Saturday. A long night of cocktails and conversation behind us and we've officially burned through the modest sized dinner consumed earlier in the evening. We were hungry. Yelp pointed us towards Traspasada, a well rated burrito joint steps away from our friends apartment and open until an astonishing 3:30AM - not a rarity by my hometown (NY) standards but certainly worth mentioning in Chicago. We arrive. The staff is halfway through the usual choreographed cleaning dance; flipping the stools, wiping the tables, and sweeping the floor, Semisonic may have been playing - it's all a bit foggy. We beg, plead, and negotiate for two more burritos to be made. After some back and forth, a beacon of hope comes in four words, "we only have steak." I think, only steak... well I guess THE BEST POSSIBLE OPTION will suffice. The urge to broverdose into visceral grunts of happiness, and game winning high fives was overwhelming. After what seemed like hours of pensive anticipation our burritos were delivered. A tear of joy almost rolled down my cheek as I pulled back the foil blanket the little bundle of joy was wrapped in. Buttery tortilla perfectly toasted, freshly minced onion and cilantro, hot off the grill steak melting the cheese around it. It was a masterpiece. A $7 masterpiece. Yes, I had a few cocktails. Yes, my dinner earlier that evening wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible, nor was I intoxicated to the point where a dollar slice can be confused for edible. Nonetheless, I had my doubts. How could a stumbled-upon 3AM burrito surpass all that NY, SF, LA, and every other place that arguably has "the" best burrito? I don't know. Further investigation was required. Round two was during normal business hours. Instead of the carne asada I chose the chicken. The TV was playing Ghost Rider and while Nicholas Cage en español was an experience in itself, the chicken burrito proved that my suspicions were true. These are the best burritos ever. Thanks for ruining every other taqueria. Until next time Traspasada, until next time...
(5)Chris B.
A very classic, take-away style taqueria. The only seating is a handful of barstools, but the food is delicious. Probably the best Torta Ahogado I've had outside the southwest. Staff was also friendly, and I think they threw in some soup just because it was cold out.
(5)Manuel A.
CASH ONLY! The pastor was bomb! The carne asada was a little dry. I am from LA and eat tacos all the time, so I might be used to eating "authentic" tacos. Don't get me wrong this place was good at 1am after a night of drinking. The pastor was the bomb!
(4)Martin P.
I like it. Friendly staff, low prices but quality food.
(4)Chan K.
Excellent food - carne asada and tripe tacos are superb. I love the birria although I wish the meat were a bit leaner. The beef in chile arbol sauce is hot enough to even make me sweat! My only gripe is that one time I came in wanting a snack and ordered a side of beans. $3 bucks seamed like highway robbery for your average side of beans, but it's something I pretty much never order alone so no big deal. The beans were good but were a bit heavy so I requested some pico de gallo to cut the beans. Pico is offered free of charge even if you order just a couple of tacos. The counter guy basically refused to give me pico de gallo for free. I understand pico de gallo not typically an accompaniment for a side of beans, but it's dirt cheap. He really made me feel unwelcome and clearly recognized me a as a regular. I really don't want to come back here now even though I've been a customer for years.
(2)Amanda S.
i did everything i should've done before heading here: i was at a hoppin' birthday bash not too far away, had a little too much fun, and had an awesome designated driver who i could thank for putting up with me with tacos. i easily ordered enough food for three people. all tacos, all topped traditionally (cilantro and onions): - carne asada - barbacoa - carne molida - chorizo - lomo encebollado - tilapia we got these to go. the kind gentleman also gave me a free horchata (which, after you stir the chunks of coagulated cinnamon around on the bottom, is actually pretty tasty..and the reason why this review is two stars, not one). all in all, the trip seemed successful. and then i got home. everything was bland. the corn tortillas were inconsistent in texture. some were soggy, others tough. the meat, while textured seemingly perfectly, lacked ANY type of flavor. i grabbed the tilapia out of the tortilla and cabbage slaw to see if i could taste anything extraordinary, and while it was honestly the best out of all the tacos, it was likely only because the fish was lightly fried. green chile did nothing to enhance the protein. it was so disappointing that i didn't even want to spend my caloric intake on that nonsense. it just wasn't worth it to me. so i rolled up all the foil with the sad leftover foodbits, tossed it into the rubbish bin, and called it a night.
(2)Eddy M.
Guacamole sucked. Tomatoes, onion lightly mixed in very little avocado. Tacos were good. Horchata good. Salsa good
(3)Ashley C.
The next step on my "taco quest" brought me here. All i can say is Wow. I definitely understand the yelp reviews here. The place is small with limited counter seating but it packs a punch. (Note: It can get a bit crowded inside.) While it may not be the cheapest taco in the area, it is delicious and full of flavor. My favorite is probably the asada or pastor. They both have so much flavor. The simple preparation with onions and cilantro lets the meat shine. The tomato like soup they brought with the tacos were also amazing. Service is good. Yo quiero más tacos from here!
(4)Osiris V.
Like I said.....4.5 Yelp stars don't lie and neither does my aunt when she says the barbacoa tacos are exactly the way she used to get them in el DF. So naturally that's what I got during my taco crawl. Actually a lot of my fellow crawlers got barbacoa and from what they said, they enjoyed them as well. The tacos were made the way they were meant to be eaten, juicy and fatty. I, being the picky little brat I am, picket out the fat and put some of their delicious salsa on it. Along with the cilantro, cebollas, sal y limon, this taco was the BOMBA! Yea, I couldn't say that in English, it wouldn't do it justice. I've also had the carne asada tacos and cecina tacos, those are equally tasty. The multi-tasking cooks (cooks, waiters, cashiers, busboys) were so nice, they're the only ones running the joint and they're doing a perfect job. Yes, it's a small joint and by small, I mean small. But we all fit there! I was shocked. I've only been there twice but I have a feeling I'll be going there as much as possible.
(5)Nancy P.
Nachos are not memorable, but their burritos are pretty great. Perfect hangover cute, Gloria behind the counter is incredibly sweet! Steak can be chewy, but the chicken is delicious.
(4)Logan R.
I come here regularly (usually when drunk) for the veggie burrito. It's one of the best in the city.
(5)Maureen S.
There are lots of great taquierias in Chicago- let the yuppies blow their paychecks at Big Star, and leave the authentic taquieria experience to those who can appreciate the finer points of low-brow Mexican food. This place has a pretty big menu- everything from the steak tacos to the veggie tortas to the salsa is delicious, cheap, and served really quick. Best spot for a quick supper or lunch near Chicago and Ashland, with super nice folks behind the counter who deserve all the tips you can give.
(5)Linda E.
The Best tacos hands down! I travel to get them. Fast service and cheap prices! U will not b disappointed! I used to frequent la passadita until I tried this place. Needless to say I have not returned to La passadita...
(4)Brianna E.
Having recently moved from Austin to Atlanta, I have experienced a marked lack of good south-of-the-border fare. While visiting Chicago, I ate here and it was great. I got the chimichanga con todo with lengua. It was pretty great. The lengua was mild and tender. It was HUGE. My husband and I ordered the same thing and we could have split it. They have this excellent black salsa. They also have good aguas fees as and chips.
(5)Aimee M.
A camper? A trailer? A hallway? This was the smallest of the small taco joints Osi V led us to on the Taco Crawl. Stop #5. Barbacoa. The barbacoa tacos are big, filling and full of calorie laden meaty fatty goodness and not expensive at all (cheap!!!) Even though the place is small, if you can find a seat inside, they will bring your food out to you. Bless their hearts. I loved all the different kinds of sodas you can get too. Because nothing erases the calories you ate more than a diet coke (yes, I'm that kind of girl). But this time I opted for a Squirt--I love Squirt! For such a tiny place, the digs are pretty clean and their menu is huge! I saw Mexican corn cakes on the menu (and I forgot the name of them) I really wanted to try them but alas, this was a taco crawl. I can see how this place is popular late night. Maybe a late night taco crawl is in the works. Paging Osi V....
(4)Cris O.
With so many taquerias to go to, one asks which of them all is: 1) authentic 2) has fresh and TASTY GOOD food. and 3) has good friendly people, well let me write you this place has all of them 3!!! =) YES, really this tiny little taqueria is PERFECT!!! The food here is that good. So good I had to get on yelp to express my views. :) I came here of course reading many yelp reviews. I knew what I was coming to! Little did I know I was going to be blown away with fully packed flavors on my tacos! Having a Mexican background and visiting the beautiful country itself; I'd like to give me some credit on legit flavors our taquerias offer. Having said this, I can only state one thing! WOWZERS!!! I came in to try several tacos, because if you want a sample of Mexico in one plate it definitely would involve a taco platter. --I had to taste their "al pastor"- after all they're an essential stamp of Mexican eatings; and let me tell you, they're they BEST al pastor tacos I've had! The flavor they marinate their pork is like nothing else. The sweetened and sautéed onions only give it the extra punch- but really it's just the seasonings they add! Again wow to that AL POSTOR pork tacos, which I am so sure it'll make the best burrito. Btw; My tacos were so good I ordered 2 more of the same. :) --I also ordered their carne asada(steak) tacos, which I was impressed. Very few places actually grill their steak; many fall flat and just add it to a flattop. Fortunately, they actually add it to the grill, makes it taste even better. --Also, if you've never tried "barbacoa" you must try it here. It's slow cooked sheep- simply and delicious. They have one of the best barbacoa tacos I've tried! Ever, like the ones I tried in Mexico!!! I really enjoyed eating here, although, the size isn't a problem for me for others it may be. When I mean tiny, I mean it only seat 9-12 people max for a full house. Despite this everything is GREAT! Ps. They make their tacos with the same tortillas I use at home( the yellow corn tortillas) so much better than the usual white corn tortillas they have at many other Mexican joints. Make those tacos taste even better ;)
(5)John B.
I came here twice...the first time they were out of nearly every meat I wanted. The second time, they were fully stocked. Anyhow, my favorite Mexican food is al pastor, by a long shot, so I decided to try this place out due to the favorable Yelp reviews. I had three tacos, one al pastor, one cachete barbacoa, and the other carne asada. They were all decent, but nothing special. I asked for flour tortillas, and they gave me corn. Their salsa was smoky but generally flat in flavor, and the pastor just didn't pack as much punch as what I have had elsewhere. The cachete was probably the best out of the three, but still not as good as what I've had elsewhere. They've really got a variety of authentic and obscure meats on the menu, which really perked my interest initially, but their flavors are just a little flat. The best thing I had all night was a carne asada spicy soup that they served me as a complimentary appetizer. I could go back for a big bowl of that. Overall, this place was good, but nothing I would rave about. It was also very pricey for being a tiny little taco dive. I paid almost $12 for three tacos and a soda, although I did get sour cream and cheese on my tacos.
(3)Danny J.
best pastor in the city--- go burrito over taco
(5)Rokey T.
The fact that they have stayed open for so long should be a testament to their food and service. Consistently nice cashiers and workers. Tasty food that is made in a jiffy. Small space, but has a tv! Great for a quick bite to eat. Open til 3AM on weekends
(4)Paul G.
ughhh YEAH! JUST GO! get the tripe taco, dont ask what is it, don't bitch about when you figure out what it is.. and JUST EAT! that is... if youre not a wuss. and if you complete this steps. you will be cursed. The curse that any other food in the world cannot fulfill the hunger you have like this place can. YUMMMYYYYYYY TRIPE! get it crispy or medium. and definitely go after a night a drinking. the guys here are nice. the place is cheap. A cab once drove into their kitchen... THATS HOW GOOD IT IS! seriously! haha enjoy. [didn't like the beef so much... i would stick to the pork -al pastor or the tribe] i initially gave it four stars.. but then i thought to myself. this is the best tripe taco ive had ever. so yeah 5 stars! WOO!
(5)Ryan B.
Well what a disappointment. I live nearby this place and it had great reviews so I figured why not give it a shot. 25$ later, what a waste. The nachos looked like someone literally threw 10 chips, globs of different ingredients and shook it all up. For the great price of 10$! Next two small tasteless tacos. I guess the burrito was alright but overall I would never go back here let alone recommend it to anyone else!!
(1)Tim H.
Great quick tacos. Came for dinner and the food came out in a couple minutes. The al pastor taco was awesome. Nicely charred and with a red sweet sauce. The chicken taco had ground meat in it which I find unique for a taco place, but I did find it good. Barbacoa was good as well, but I preferred the other two meats.
(4)E P.
Simply put, these are the best tacos and burritos you will find anywhere, GUARANTEED!!!!! I understand there is another location with this same name but do not confuse it. They have 2 different owners and are not the same. This place is located at 811 N Ashland ave . Whether you go at 2 pm or 2 am as you approach this little taqueria you will be greeted with the aroma of steak cooking and that alone will draw you in. You'll not only smell the aroma but you'll see the smoke coming from the chimney from the grill above the street as the carne asada masters are grilling the awesome steak. when you walk in you're greeted by a very friendly young man who takes your order. I enjoy the steak tacos with onion ,cilantro, and cheese ( this is all you need to savor the true taste of steak tacos ) They are not greasy because the steak is grilled on the grated grill like your bbq grill, not the customary flat grill as you see in many restaurants ( this makes the meat greasy plus doesn't taste the same) They offer steak, chicken, al pastor (mexican bbq -which is just as good ) tongue, brain, and birria on weekends. Oh yeah you must try the barbacoa tacos. this place steams the barbacoa ( steamed beef ) just right with the fat cut off so its not even greasy or tough. and if you want the large version of any of these just order the burritos( they feel like they weigh about 2-3 lbs. mmmm gooood!! of course you can't go wrong with the platters which are served with fresh rice and beans. They also serve alcohol or you can order a fresh lemonade drink or horchata ( rice water- one of the best I've tasted around ) if you dine in ,you sit at the counter tops they have and they bring out complimentary chips and 3 different types of salsa ( i prefer the dark black salsa infused with garlic , and its not that overbearing hot taste neither, its just right ) and they also give you a complimentary small bowl of soup, sometimes its birria soup, you never know but its always good. The food is great, I usually get 2 steak tacos and 1 barbacoa and if i'm really hungry I'll get the chile relleno taco plain ( stuffed pepper with cheese ) if the seeds are kept in then its spicy hot but usually its medium and boy is it good. And if I do all 4 of these at the same time plus a lemonade or horchata and sometimes just a plain ol coke it'll run me about 10 or 11 dollars and let me tell you tht these tacos pack enough meat in them to look like a burrito. Food, Service, Cleanliness and Prices are all excellent for this location on Ashland and Chicago. I've tried other local taco places in the area but this place is so good that I just had to write about it. IT'S THE BOMB!! I'm getting hungry now just thinking about it so I think its tacos for me tonight. off street parking, they have a delivery service, prices are good, great selection off the menu, cash only at this place but well worth every penny.fast service, you literally get your food within 2-3 minutes of ordering. It's great to stop and eat any time of the day and if you're out late on the weekends ,they stay open until 3 am , and 2 am during the week. this place gets super crowded on the late night weekends , that's how good they are., Give it a try, or drive in to the city for some REAL CARNE ASADA TACOS, I guarantee you will say that you've never had anything better, I know I haven't. This place gets 5 tortillas (stars) mmmmmmmmgoooooooood!!!!!
(5)Teek S.
I enjoyed it and would eat there again. It's not the best place but good value. I would recommend the pastor, so good.
(4)Eileen K.
Only reason they get 3 is because their other food is decent. Stay away from the posole.
(3)Janique D.
Don't judge a book/restaurant by it's cover! This place is incredibly TINY and very unassuming, there's very few seats and it's not licensed however having said all that, it's SO delicious! and cheap! My fiancé and I cursed and eye rolled our way through all of our tacos...then we got more! We tried the tilapia, chorizo, flank steak and chicken. All of them were equally as tasty as the next! This place is unpretentious, cheap and great for a quick bite!
(5)Robert O.
I've been having a rough time finding really good Mexican food in Chicago. Maybe I just don't get out enough. Tacos de cabeza, sesos, lengua, lomo encebollato. This place hits all the right buttons. There must be something in the air in Avondale. It seems like an epicenter of good things to put in your mouth.
(4)Brent G.
Situated in an unassuming building at the corner of Ashland and Chicago in the East Village, this little taqueria cranks our some amazingly fresh Mexican food. After visiting a flashy but very mediocre and expensive place on North Avenue (patronized by what appeared to be suburbanites who had wandered off the freeway on their way to Michigan Avenue) we decided to get real and eat where the locals eat. Bolstered by 140+ positive Yelp reviews we jumped into this place right after mass on Sunday. Sitting in barstools while enjoying the all-Spanish interview with Justice Sonya Sotomayor on Univision (no one but my three year-old actually speaks Spanish--apparently the babysitter is teaching him as I witnessed him greet everyone with a joyful Hola!), we experienced truly delicious and well-presented, made-to-order Mexican food. I had the chorizo tacos and Julia the carne asada. The munchkins ate a variety of nachos, tacos, and quesadillas. The meats were tasty and not too greasy, the rice perfectly cooked, and the veggies super fresh. The limes were the greenest I have every seen in a restaurant. Everyone was satisfied and we fed seven people for under $50, tax, tag, and title. Ultra-casual family lunch perfected.
(5)Marie R.
Yummy! I ordered nachos after a drunken night with a girlfriend and thought I enjoyed it so the next day I ordered the nachos again and a chicken burrito (dinner) for a breaking bad series finale party (of one lol) the next day. Oops...didn't realize I'd spent nearly $20 bucks for a dinner on myself, but it's okay I was splurging. The nachos (with ground beef) were tasty, but you'd think at a restaurant like this they'd be stacked up tall. The chicken burrito was pretty good but not spectacular. Overall, I'm a fan and would go back. Besides it's literally a block a way from my apartment so I might as well come back on a regular basis.
(4)Lindsay D.
Cash only hidden gem, love the horchata and al pastor! My favorite tacos in the city thus far. Great prices
(5)Partha A.
The al pastor was good. The barbacoa was not. Carne asada was mediocre. The guac wasn't flavorful. In all meh.
(3)Ali H.
There is a 4am taco joint right down the street from my apartment. I'm already interested. Wait, they have good yelp reviews too?? I checked this place out for dinner when I was NOT drunk, and it was NOT 4am, and the food was still AWESOME! Think of how much better it will be when I'm stone cold drunk on a saturday night with the munchies?! We had a burrito and a torta, and shared both. We had steak in one and al pastor in the other. Both meats were badass. I think we slightly preferred the torta, and the burrito was pretty salty. That said, the food was fresh, well seasoned, and well proportioned, and well priced. Neighborhood taco joint? Check!
(4)LeTran B.
Very cheap with great, friendly service. The al pastor meat was perfectly seasoned. I found their chorizo was a bit too lean and dry for my taste. However, I liked my burritos in general. The burritos came with just meat, lettuce, onion, and tomato. No rice or beans which I liked. The extra avocado portion was very generous for the added price ($0.50).
(5)Mark E.
I had been to the restaurant up on N. California and it wasn't too bad so I decided to call the Ashland location to get an order for delivery. Was told they delivered, just not to my apartment complex which was 15 blocks away. Not only would the person on the phone say why they wouldn't deliver to my address, he had a very bad attitude. There are too many other great taquerias in Chicago to put up with bad customer service. The other people who like this place can keep them in business,
(1)Kate H.
I buy tacos/burritos here at least 2x/month. It's one of the only places that reminds me of the great taquerias I used to frequent when I lived in Austin, TX. Amazing prices, great food. Always ask for the red sauce, they hide it in the cooler, but it's far superior to the green!
(5)Colin A.
I love the saying "don't judge a book by its cover." Taqueria Tradpasada is a perfect example of this -- looks like a hole in the wall but serves amazing food. When someone says "authentic" Mexican -- this is it. Delicious tacos (double tortilla, fresh cilantro and onions), two types of homemade salsas...and a ridiculously sized menu (given the size of the place) make choosing a meal difficult. No matter, I'll always go tacos -- I had three chicken and could have easily taken down 3-4 more. Extensive drink selection depending on your desires. This is the perfect spot for a quick summertime stop-in when visiting Chicago...mmm, orange soda and chicken tacos. I'll be back for sure. Notes: limited parking (walk/bike it), cash only, Spanish fluency not required
(5)Pedro L.
Weren't lying about the pastor tacos. Damn. Keep in mind that this review is only for the pastor tacos and burrito. Everything else I've had here is pretty, meh? Definitely my favorite tacos in Chicago, which is kind of a big thing considering there are a billion taco places here, but for whatever reason their steak, chicken, and other tacos just don't do the trick. Oh, and on my quest to find the greatest tampiqueno I'm sorry to say, but this place doesn't make the top 5. That being said, best tacos, and I plan on going here very frequently, especially with the great service you get... annnnd they deliver. Booya!
(4)Tom C.
Used to be a great neighborhood deal. Very good, straightforward Mexican food. However, the hike in prices just don't justify when there are a few comparable tacos in the neighborhood. El Taco Velo just moved up to be the best deal in the neighborhood. Traspasada will still be the best for late night in the neighborhood, though (Veloz closes at midnight, this place is open late).
(3)Joanna K.
I have mixed feelings. I ordered a taco dinner with al pastor tacos, verbatim, and the gentlemen behind the counter gave me 2 tacos and nothing else and then insisted that was I asked for. I paid extra for the rice and beans and think I ended up paying more than for a taco dinner but its not a huge deal. As for the food... The rice and beans are great. Soo many places make them bland, but theirs were top notch. My only complaint is the the beans to rice ratio was off. There was only a small dollop of beans. I was really craving some al pastor tacos but I just want feeling it. They were decent but they were served with grilled onions, which I'm not used to, so it did not settle my craving. I would try them again though.
(3)Ramya P.
Good option for those days when you're craving Mexican food at 2am... The nachos, veggie taco n chilles rellenos that me and my husband shared were good and was worth the $20 we spent on them. I would recommend take out or delivery as its a tiny joint.
(4)Jon I.
The food is simply the best fast Mexican food in Chicago. I've been here about 50 times, I usually get a chicken burrito with chicken, rice, cheese and onions along with a pastor taco (and a steak quesadilla if it's late enough). Same friendly guy at the counter every time. They're open late. Don't forget to bring cash and make sure to grab a Mexican coke.
(5)Lance S.
Frequent visitor for the al pastor tacos. Corn tortilla tacos overflowing with spicy marinated pork with cilantro and onions. Open late to satisfy the drunk munchies but also tasty enough to order for lunch/dinner sober. Service is friendly and prices are reasonably. Still need to try the goat soup they advertise on the weekends....
(5)Suzy D.
We came here again! We are in love with this place. This time we tried the pork skin tacos wtih green sauce and we also got some nachos. So delicious and cheap!
(5)Aldi J.
Everyone talks about La Pasadita, but you got this gem just blocks down the street. This is my go to cheap dinner. It's also the place a bring my friends when you've had that late night out and you are dying to eat something hahahaha. (I know everything tastes good at that point, but this place is gooooood). I have yet to try their dinners but some people seem to really like them. I go here mainly for the tacos and burritos. Super cheap w/ variety? Yes please. My favorite is the Al Pastor. The others are excellent also... barbacoa, steak, chicken, beef. They are usually generous with the green sauce. I'd recommend asking for limes. A small squeeze makes the tacos that much better. Cash only and small so plan for take out!
(5)Kim B.
I can see why people from Chicago would enjoy the Mexican food here but it still doesn't compare to what you can get in San Diego. The al pastor was tasty and they give you a lot of meat for your money. But for me, I still miss the al pastor tacos from Tacos El Gordo in California..
(3)Joshua C.
Great food and service!!! I am a regular here. I love there food.
(4)Brett K.
Better than ever, these guys are awesome and know exactly what they are doing. Pastor tacos, ERMAHGERD!! P.S. Enjoy the red ghost and yellow scorpion peppers guys. Let me know what you try them in, be careful!
(5)Holly H.
This is the BEST taco place in the city! The food is awesome & affordable, service is fast, it's always clean inside, and the people that work there are ALWAYS so friendly. So, thank you for the great food and service!
(5)Paul S.
2 taco platter, with a tablespoon of beans, rice and head lettuce, got the pork, it tastes like it was made and overcooked yesterday $10 down the drain
(1)Thomas I.
Stopped in for two steak tacos, which come standard with onion & cilantro (I also added avocado). They were tasty, and ready in under 60 seconds, which is probably a record for Chicago-area taquerias I've visited, and also indicates that they had the steak already cooked & ready--which some might say isn't a good thing. The tacos were tasty, but I have to give them a low rating because they don't serve free water. I'm of the belief that any restaurant should let you have a glass of water for free, but these guys want to push bottled drinks on you. That's unacceptable, and they lose two stars for it.
(2)Stephanie B.
Delicious and simple. We got vegetarian tacos and a vegetarian burrito. The tacos were fantastic. Double shells, a good mix of rice, beans, avo, onion, lettuce and tomatoes. The cilantro was just right! The shells are to die for. This is coming from someone who is anti-tortilla. Sister says the burrito was good. She is a chipotle aficionado (wait, don't stop reading! we know it's not authentic in the slightest, but don't try to deny chipotle doesn't taste good!) and said while it was completely different, she ranks it on par. The service was excellent- the man working the register was extraordinarily nice and didn't mind that, as it was our first time there, we took our time figuring out what we wanted. Not the cheapest place, but damn good and worth the 2.85/taco. The burrito was a bit pricier at almost 8 bucks but Sister reported it filled her up and she didn't feel terrible about herself after, so I think that's a win.
(4)Jelena Z.
Taqueria Traspasada is basically the size of a trailer. One HOT little trailer! I walked up to the somewhat scary facade, not knowing whether to expect a scene from 'No Country for Old Men' or simply some of the best authentic Mexican eats I've come across in Chicago. Luckily, it was the latter. The young man waiting for me at the counter did not look like Javier Bardem, I wasn't challenged to a coin toss, and no drug deals went awry. What I did find, however, was insanely delicious Mexican food. My friend had the al pastor tacos, served simply with onions, cilantro and tomatoes. I sprung for the carne asada burrito (the version which comes dressed with onions, cilantro, bright green lettuce, tomato, cheese, a light brush with sour cream and a bit of avocado). Brilliant! What was consistent between both of our meals? The 'oohs' and 'ahhs' that were simultaneously uttered as we attempted to describe our respective meat choices. This no-nonsense taqueria is cash only. The staff? Sweet as honey pie. The digs? So small only a few can eat-in at a time. Oh, and the door is so close to the curb that you risk inhaling exhaust fumes as we did. Did I love it all anyway? Hell YES. See you next week.
(5)Becca M.
I have been meaning to eat there for a while. I finally got a chance yesterday and I have to say, I have been missing out. It was slow when I went there which is not usually a good time to go eat tacos but despite that the meat for the Al Pastor tacos was very tasty and the tortillas fresh. The portion was generous, and the salsa was delicious. The service was very good. The guy asked me a couple times if everything was good, and when I dropped an already squeeze lime wedge, he rushed another one. Next I am going to try Suadero, which is a staple of Taco stands in Mexico City.
(5)Diablo L.
Stopped in for a quick bite,had steak tacos and al pastor tacos,they were very good,the steak tacos were my favorite,very good flavor,this place has a huge menu,need to go back and try other items
(4)Mike B.
Fantastic! The food is very good. We 4 people in our group and tried a variety of things. The Al pastor, chorizo, and barbacoa were the big winners of the group. The carne asda was solid but amazing. We tried a variety of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. The staff was very friendly and did a wonderful job. They also gave us some soup to try and it was excellent.
(4)Kim J.
TT's rocks. Absolutely delicious food. Family run business. VERY annoyingly no credit cards... please please please accept them guys! Charge me more, I understand you have to pay fees, but I don't have cash.
(4)Mary M.
Traspasada, I love you. The quickest, tastiest, most awe-inspiring tacos in the whole damn city. Oh, how I love you.
(5)ross s.
Ive been here a few times now, and each time I am impressed! I love this places tacos and burritos. The torta I had once was awesome too. I hit up taquerias all over the place, I will drive to the best tacos. This place is easily the best. The service is also A1, they are friendly and helpful. Also, if you are in to some adventurous eating, they have brain tacos! I havent tried them, Im actually a little afraid, but with carne asada and al pastor being as good as they are, its hard to not get them every time. If you like mexican food (its my favorite) then come to this place, I have only been here in the afternoons for lunch, so I dont know what its like at night, but they are open late. Enjoy!
(5)Kyle H.
After a full day of walking at the Shedd Aquarium, my sister, my son and I were in need of a good quick meal. Taqueria La Traspasada #2 provided that and more! The inside is clean, but there's barely a square inch to spare! A couple of stools against the wall or windows is the only seating provided. Step up to make your order from their incredibly huge menu...you can't go wrong with the tacos! Tacos come with cilantro, onions, and tomatoes. I'm not a huge fan of too much cilantro, but the portion here was just right! My son loved his ground beef tacos, I loved the Al Pastor and the Seasoned Steak (Cesada). The meat was awesomely seasoned, and not full of gristle and fat. Tacos are cheap, less than $2/piece, and they come out steaming hot. We were also given a couple of small cups of a spicy beef soup while we waited. Service is polite, restaurant is clean, tacos are incredibly cheap and tasty! So why play "1,2,3, which taqueria to the north is the 'Good One'?" Just go to Taqueria La Traspasada!
(5)Pascal M.
Save the Al Pastor grease for later, it works great as a hair gel. After getting off the train, I rode my bike here before meeting up wih some friends. I like the location, lot of nice spots to eat in Noble Square. The interior is a lot smaller than what you typically expect for inexpensive mexican food. However I like the cramped & dive style atmosphere they got going on inside. Their Al Pastor seemed to be the item to get, so I went simple and got a burrito. It was excellent, I was famished and it hit the spot perfectly. The hot sauces they provide are addictive, and you may find your self doing the New Mexican style "Christmas Tree" approach by spreading a little love of both sides onto your next bite. They have some other desirable items. One that really stood out was their Shrimp Cocktail. It looked really fresh and fun to eat. Served in a big margarita glass, with a spicy tomatoe cocktail mix, fresh cilantro and onions, with big lumps of shrimp. The guy next to me got a Torta, which also looked really good. Especially the bolillo roll it was served on. I'd love to come here late night and grab some party food. Probably a blast to hang out inside with a rowdy crowd and maybe eat your food right out front on a summer night. Quite simply, Taqueria Traspasada is an in n' out Mexican restaurant that can KO the majority of the thousands of similar establishments that litter our diverse city.
(5)Avi G.
Best tacos in the City! I LOVE the steak tacos and the sopes. Salas are fantastic and can't find a small taco joint that tops Traspasada. This is more of a carry out but they do have barstools and two countertops for eating in.
(5)Dawn P.
iv passed by this place so many times and always said that i want to go in and try there steak tacos and today i finally did all i can say is yummmm. There tacos are absolutely delicious. Im so happy I finally did and ill be a regular. I wish there were open 24 hours a day.
(4)Steve M.
This is the burrito that beat Pasadita! It's more fresh, has real lettuce, tomato and diced onion, not as reliant on beans as filling, and actually tasted better. Plus, the guy who served us had some personality and gave us the impression that he cares about our business (something Pasadita has honestly *never* done). Taqueria Traspasada, this is the beginning of a beyoooootiful friendship!
(4)Reuben H.
Look- I am just glad that I don't feel the need to go to that three-headed monster up the road, and from what I could tell in only one quick visit, Traspasada has better tacos anyway. The fact that they are yet another late night dining option in the new 'hood, and they offer all the bits of meat that "los gueros tontos como yo" prefer is another reason why I need to get on my bike even more often, or possibly brave this heat and run a bit more. Just beware of drunk dudes not getting out of your way when you walk in and want to order. Next time I'll be sure to bring my shiv and shank a fool for getting in the way of my al pastor and lengua and lomo... Man I'm hungry just thinking about it... The tacos, not the violence.
(4)Hannah N.
Best al pastor tacos I have ever had. And that includes the streets of Mexico. Perfect fat to savory tender meat ratio. That amazing spicy sweet seasoning. The smoky caramelization. Oh dear god. I couldn't stop thinking about the taco all day today after having them yesterday. I am sincerely salivating thinking about them right now. Boyfriend was totally amused that I refused to talk to him (save for the occasional appreciative Mmmmm Mmmmm which in retrospect sounds really inappropriately sensual) throughout dinner because i was way too preoccupied with savoring the flavor (code: stuffing my face). My roommate just asked me if they were better than big star's tacos.. My answer was WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. No contest. Good thing they're open so late... I might just go get another one right now... And I'm not even hungry. I mean if they are this good sober, I can't even imagine what they would be like drunk. P. S. take-out is not nearly as good cause the meat loses that delicate crisp, so much better fresh.
(5)Kristel S.
My favorite late night meal in the neighborhood! Each little taco comes with two tortillas so you can make two tiny tacos to make things more manageable--not that I'm telling you to only get one, because you should definitely order at least two. I pretty much stick to the carneasada or the chorizo tacos, but the burritos also look good. There's a few stools if you wanna stay in and eat--the cashier is super friendly (it's pretty refreshing when you're wasted and tired), but I'm fan of walking and eating tacos :)
(4)Hana B.
LOVE THIS PLACE (esp for late night, drunk food). I always get the avocado torta, an order of chips and salsa, and horchata. Super fast, and their salsa is seriously my fave among all the Mexican joints (super fresh). Just a warning: their salsa is also SUPER SPICY (drinking horchata helps though!). This place is tiny (it can probably only seat 8-10 max), so if you have a huge group of people, you probably just want to order your food to go. Don't forget cash $$$
(5)T J.
Fresh chicken and vegetarian burrito. Love the fresh cilantro. Chicken is done so well. Flavorful.
(5)Eric L.
fantastic tacos for basically no money. how the hell do places like this stay in business? it always amuses me to think that they could raise prices .25 and the owner would see a 20% boost to his annual bottom line. get al pastor and choriqueso tacos
(4)Adam K.
Great tacos. Ordered the beef toungue, chorizo and al pastor. All three were delicious. Loved the soup beforehand. Loved the sauces to go along with the tacos. My only mistake was ordering the chimichanga. This was a train wreck. It was soggy, not crispy, and it was gooped with cheese and a really weird horrible ground beef mixture. Just STICK with the tacos.
(3)Alison V.
I LOVE this taqueria; it is definitely in my top 5 in Chicago! The cashier who's name I don't know but I know his face is super nice. The food is delicious and the value is great. I really love that they serve fideo/tomato soup before every meal on the weekdays - it makes me feel at home. :O) The only reason why I give a four star review instead of a five is because I've never been a fan of how small the establishment is. It gets crowded on the weekends and I can't 100% enjoy the meal that way but nonetheless, I come back because it is amazing.
(4)SunnyAndLeonard E.
Partly raised in California, half of this reviewing duo has been disappointed by the Mexican options in Buffalo, where we currently reside. Whenever we visit a larger city, we find ourselves ravenous for some south-of-the-border treats, and we rank this place's Al Pastor among the burrito elite. In fact, we rank this place as one of Chicago's top attractions, edible and otherwise. You won't find a better use for your time and money within the city limits. Go for it.
(5)Sharad K.
I have eaten at this restaurant at least 20 times. It is consistently excellent. You can't go wrong with this place. All the food is made to order and their customer service is excellent.
(5)Nate L.
Oh boy, finally a taco joint I can enjoy! Tacos are priced from 1.99-2.19 depending on your choice of meat, I ordered 2 chorizo, 2 cabeza and 1 carne asada. I had no idea how big the tacos were so I took a gamble. And it was a gamble I shouldn't have taken. Meats were falling out of the tortilla, topped with simple onions and cilantro, they were a match made in heaven. A lot of places serve their chorizos way too salty but this place...... wooooohoooooo. GOOD SH#%. Even their cabeza and asada are seasoned perfectly. Another awesome thing is, that actually give you a bottle of their home made salsas (green and red) so you can put as much as you want! I did some damage to their red salsa! It's not too far away from my work so I'm definitely gonna revisit this place soon!
(5)Bilbo B.
They make a good veggie burrito and they're always open late. Cash only though.
(4)Stephanie A.
Best tacos I have had in Chicago. These are authentic Mexican tacos. They have a great variety of tacos. They also have great burritos. Just be cautioned that this location is cash only but there is a bank of America ATM across the street.
(5)Triphena W.
Great, authentic hole-in-the-wall. I really like the steak burrito. Say yes to cilantro and onions, squeeze the lime inside, and use the red and green salsas. Their tacos are also good and generously meat-filled compared to other Mexican spots. Most people seem to order their food to go, but there are about eight or so bar stools for dining in. The food seems less greasy than other taco/burrito joints. Could be viewed as a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. Easy street parking. Stop by Hoosier Mama Pie Company for dessert. I'm a fan.
(4)S F.
Came here on a Saturday evening around 9pm. The place was almost empty except another couple that was eating in as well. The place is really small with some bar stools and barely any space to walk inside. The menu of items is extensive and I had to ask for help when trying to order our meal. The person at the counter was very helpful and easy to talk to. We ordered a carne asada platter and Tampiquena carne asada platter. I also ordered the horcata which was awesome and creamy! When our meals came out, I noticed there was a decent amount of lettuce, tomatoes, rice and beans in addition to the meat. The Tampiquena also came with an enchilada and guacamole. The one thing I would have liked better is if the meat was not so chewy or left rare as it was served. Otherwise, it was a good, hearty meal. And the people working there came by many times to ask if the meal was good or if we needed anything else (not expected at places where you order at a counter, pay there and then grab a seat). While we were eating, we noticed quite a few people stopped in to take out food. Seemed like a joint people in the neighborhood visited frequently. I think the place was good to give it a try but I'd probably go elsewhere to get my fix of Mexican food next time.
(3)Fygar F.
Excellent place for carryout - my favorite when CTA bus tracker says I have at least 7 minutes before the 9 Ashland bus comes. The steak burrito has plenty of tasty steak as well as a healthy portion of veggies so you won't feel heavy, just perfectly satisfied.
(5)Irene G.
I for sure will be a regular here. Effective today, I am never going anyplace else other than Taqueria Traspasada for takeout steak burrito or for Mexican food for that matter. Yes, it's a little pricey -$7 for a burrito, but worth every penny. Definitely the best burrito I have had! Who doesn't like cilantro and onion on their food? No waiting here. Your order is ready in less than 5 minutes. :)
(5)Arthur M.
I have worked in restaurants for ten years and am as nice as they come, but the guys who work here are wicked nice. The counter is good. The tacos are good.
(5)Krista K.
I love this place. It is very small and neighborhood-y. There are only stools really, no place to sit. It is very clean and neat and the service is very sweet and nice. Lovely view of the bus stop. ;) The food is really flavorful and they are very generous with the limes. This is the place to go. Not La Pasadita, which is super dirty and terrible. (I wish we would do what NY and London do with the health department scores on the doors.)
(5)Megan K.
Do not waste your time or money at any of the three La Pasaditas; Taqueria Traspasada blows them away hands down. The staff is fantastic, the food amazing (what in the hell do they do to their chicken to make it SO unbelievably good?!), and it's cheap! I seriously used to eat here almost daily when I lived a block away, and if I'm back in the neighborhood it's a requisite stop on my trip.
(5)Francesca L.
Great food - great prices and fast service!! The guys working behind the counter are always super friendly and helpful. The place also looks like a little hole in the wall from the outside but it is very clean inside and decorated nicely. If you ever hesitated going in because of the look - don't!! My favorite is the carne asada torta. Their green salsa is also a perfect mix of spice and flavor!
(5)David N.
Grabbed a quick lunch. Pretty good tacos. Tried the beef tongue and vegetarian. The tongue was alright. I've had better on the Southside. The vegetarian was simple, but solid. Lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, and a nice heap of guacamole. Best of all was the green salsa that came with my take-out order. One of the best hot salsas I've ever had. Plenty of jalapenos in this one, so be careful. Tacos here were well worth the stop. Good stuff.
(4)F. C. K.
They have guacamole now, but it's always terrible. Tastiness of burritos seems to have come down a notch as well. But still good. Better than Carbon or Mr. Taco.
(4)Peter L.
If it weren't for the plastic plates and rehabbed-trailer look, they could have doubled the prices and I would still leave thinking "Hot damn, that was some of the best Mexican food I've had in Chicago." Traspasada is better than Pasadita and De Pasada. It ain't the place for ambiance or comfortable seating, but the food is no joke. If you want to class it up beyond your typical tacos and burritos, the flautas and chiles rellenos are awesome as well. Everything is so fresh -- not just cause everything was made two minutes ago, but the actual ingredients. And there's something about those corn tortillas that is just ridiculous. It's like eating pillows, in a delicious kind of way. The service was top-notch, the place was spotless (though trailer-like, as mentioned earlier), prices are solid, and the food comes out fast. My girlfriend hates all the cheap Mexican places I drag her to, and Traspasada is the first place where she wants to come back. Don't get much better than that.
(5)Erik A.
The food here is good but the customer service is terrible. We ordered two tacos and a bean burrito for delivery. My wife hates onion, so we asked for no onions. The order arrived with onions and when we called to tell the restaurant, they rudely argued that the cook was a professional and he was sure there were no onions. He even had the nerve to ask what the onions looked like and tell me that it was lettuce and not onions. After I explained that I tasted and there were onions, he agreed to bring the order once again but repeated several times that we would need to give back the old food, like we were trying to scam them. Ridiculous.
(2)John Y.
I am furious with this place. I walk in at 11:45pm..... wanting a chicken burrito. There is someone else waiting for their food inside. I walk in and behind me two (2) Big Black gang banger type guys walk in. He tells me they are closed as he does the Black guys... I walk out but wait in my vehicle. He ends up serving everyone except me. Nice!
(1)Ramona R.
Hands down the BEST taco-shop style Mexican food I've had outside of Los Angeles and San Diego. Amazing beans - taste like beans cooked up by your abuela. Flavorful carne asada that's not greasy. Delicious guacamole. Excellent and complex, flavorful salsas. The Mexican rice is spot on- maybe not as good as homemade but many taquerias/restaurants can't execute Mexican rice right, this place does.The staff is lovely and friendly. I could eat here every day. I don't understand the appeal of La Pasadita with this place just a few doors down.
(5)Mark M.
I Love this place. The food is cheap and yet good (I'm all about pork). It's really friendly and quick. It's not haute cuisine but it's the way fast food should be done. Decent ingredients done cheap and cheerful by people who seem to care a bit about what they're doing.
(5)First L.
Before you write off my review, please let me explain...we were hungry for burritos and ended up at Happy Village on Wolcott. Huh? I know, I get it, but that's where we went. We ordered a couple of Fat Tires for $3.50 and borrowed the well-loved and much-used book of takeout menus and flipped to the tab for Mexican. Still perplexed? Hang with me. It was nearly 75 degrees and we wanted to sit outside in the sun on the unnaturally warm October day. Ergo Happy Village. SOOOOO, we ordered delivery from Traspasada. One seasoned steak burrito and some al pastor tacos. To round it out, we ordered chips and guacamole. 45 minutes and $32 later, we dug in. The guacamole was good and the chips were actually warm, but it was downhill from there. The steak was extremely seasoned, but not of anything palatable. Rather it tasted like natural gas smells. The rice was dry and pretty flavorless, as were the beans. Finally, the al pastor was ok, but skimpy on the meat and heavy on the sour cream. Am I an idiot for ordering delivery burritos? Absolutely. But the beer was cold and the sun warm. My real error was not promptly calling back after placing the order and just going straight to the source. So I am throwing in two stars for my personal stupidity. Maybe this place is great AFTER several beers, but it was just plain bad this afternoon.
(2)Erika S.
I used to love this place but their prices just hiked up! La pasadita was the original go to place for steak tacos but they too became too expensive for fast Mexican food, I guess now you can go to either since they are about the same price/quality and they are both around the same neighborhood.
(2)Andre W.
Strolled in around 2:30AM on Saturday night after dancing my ass off at Sonotheque and as I said in that review, I was in hot pursuit of a burrito. Ordered a chicken burrito and it was prepared in less than a minute. NICE!!!! It came with a massive amount of onions, YES!!!! It only set me back $5, which is great. This is a nice, little place with cool guys working the grill. I just hated when I left out, I smelled like I had been working there for 4 hours. Glad this place is in walking distance of home, because I often crave burritos @ night!
(5)Anuj S.
The burrito I got was just OK. Overall, I would say the flavor was lacking. Also both the tortilla and the rice were very dry... Very disappointing after reading the yelp reviews. I gave it an extra star because both hot sauces were good. I finished them up with some Doritos at home.
(3)Katie S.
I feel like I'm really missing something after reading these other reviews. Is it because I'm always sober when I come here? I think that's my mistake, I'll have to test my hypothesis Friday night and see if I can edit this. I usually get the taco dinner. The chorizo tacos are pretty fantastic, but the steak and ground beef are nothing special. The rice and beans are standard, but they don't give you much. I'm usually still hungry after this meal. The green salsa is hot and tasty. The pico de gallo salsa is no good, really watery and the tomatoes never seem to be ripe. I need more excitement in my life! I'll go down the street to Tecalitlan for that. PS- CASH ONLY
(3)Rebeka M.
I kind of forgot the exact name of what I ordered, but they were two of the most delicious soft tacos I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The beef was so tender and juicy. Like it had been slow simmered in a crock pot for a very long time. Then it was topped with cilantro... mui delicioso. The tortillas were very light and fresh also. Overall the meal was not greasy and very fresh. AND THE SALSA!!!! Oh lord, this topic deserves a separate paragraph. I would have eaten this out of anywhere they put it... anywhere. Both the salsa verde and red salsa were "too spicy" for my counterparts, but they were just to my liking (I would have liked more spice, but I was more than satisfied). I was seriously considering pilfering the bottles of salsa, but the problems with that would have been: A. it would not have been very nice B. we didn't have a refrigerator in our hotel room The gentleman at the register was very nice, and he served us this really good beef soup as we waited. The meal was very inexpensive. It was something like $5.35 for my two tacos, soup, and a drink. Very clean and well lit. We went around midnight on a Monday and at first we were the only ones there, but then it got busy towards the end of our meal. There is not a lot of seating, maybe like 20 or so chairs? It was about a 10 minute walk west from the Chicago blue line stop. Overall this was an excellent place to eat and I will be definitely coming back.
(5)Patrick B.
Carne Asada Tacos were good. So was the salsa for the chips. The other salsa provided had good kick. Fast service.
(4)Sarah E.
I am always on the hunt for good tacos and I finally found a place that makes me happy. This places is ALL about the food - get in, get out. Super fast service, LOADED tacos - all the meat they put on here is double the amount of anywhere else I've been to. MMMMMMM can't wait to go back.
(4)Tom S.
You guys know who "The Tamale Guy" is? Guess what, I saw him getting his dinner a Taqueria Traspasada. Let's stop and think about this for a small moment: if The Tamale Guy gets HIS food from this Mexican joint, you know this place must be muy delicioso! I'm a big believer that tacos should be served on soft, corn tortillas with ONLY the meat, onions, cilantro and whatever salsa you choose and that's how this place does it, the REAL way! They'll certainly "Taco Bell" it up for you if you want lettuce and sour cream but man, this place is authentically good. Last night, I stopped in and ordered the Tampaquena, it's a big slab of carne asada (that's steak to you gringos), perfectly seasoned and cooked, rice, beans, guacamole, some lettuce on the side for color, a grilled jalapeno pepper and a bunch of warm corn tortillas. Oh wait, on top of all of this sits a little cute cheese enchilada. BAM! How about that for a meal? I ate it all. Don't tell my wife this but last week when she was out of town, I had the Tampaquena delivered two nights in a row. Thank goodness we didn't share a bed together until a few nights later cuz the Tampaquena will do funny things to you. All worth it. Okay, summary: If you live in the 'hood, this should be your go-to for Mexican delivery. If you don't, and you want authentic Mexican, it's worth the drive over. Don't expect a waitress or to pay with a credit card cuz they don't roll that way. What they do roll is the best damn Mexican food north of Madison Ave.
(5)Hoang L.
I remember my brother taking me here years ago and it was awesome. Went back here late last night after a night of partying. Service. I asked the cashier "what's good here?" like 3 times and never got a response. At first, I thought he was just ignoring me because I was intoxicated, but I realized he was just busy staring at my girlfriend and female cousin. Not cool. Not cool at all. Steak burrito = I love salty food but it was WAY to salty. Trust me, that's saying a lot. Steak fajitas = It was okay, but they are cheap with the rice and refried beans. I mean, come on, if you're going to charge $10, give me more. It was like 3 table spoons each. Chorizo torta = It was meh... I took a bite but my cousin said the bread got a little rubbery. Green salsa = I love spicy foods and I'm going to have to say it's too spicy to taste good. They didn't include any red salsa. For a hole-in-the-wall joint, I'd expect better food. You lose 2 stars for the food and 2 stars for ignoring me.
(1)Nathan C.
had the al pastor tacos. excellent. two of them and a coke ran $6 and some change. i'll be back again and again.
(4)Jason E.
Best mexican food in Chicago hands down! I frequent this place 2-3 times a week.
(5)Carolyn E.
The BEST burrito place in the neighborhood, I've tried them all and this is definitely the best. I tend to stick with the vegetarian burrito and the boyfriend tends to get the El Pastor. This place is cash only, but it's worth going across the street to one of those random banks and paying an ATM fee.
(5)Mike K.
These hole in the wall taco stands generally scare me because I tend to have a sensitive stomach and God only knows what goes on in the kitchen in the back. But I had a hankering for a taco and got inspired to try this joint based on a few recommendations in a recent taco thread. Traspasada has a huge menu with various items containing various types of meat, including some I don't want to think about. I went the safe route: two ground beef tacos, one chicken taco and one choritzo taco. The tacos at Traspasada are all pretty good sized. I preferred the ground beef version over both the chicken and choritzo versions. Three tacos filled me up nicely, with the fourth one making a nice late night snack. Four stars. I'll be back.
(4)Amanda B.
A great test to any taqueria is the quality of their rellanos. OMG, the chile was so tasty and not too much cheese! Coming back to try everything else!
(5)Krystyna B.
Busted into the Taqueria around 2:30am with two hiccupping, giggly girls after a GNO at Five Star. The restaurant was empty except for one man practicing his Spanish with a line cook. Managed to feed the three of us - drinks included - for under $20. Tacos al pastor and chicken burritos were...AWESOME. Fresh, delicious, and kicky once you added in your choice of salsa. In and out in under half an hour with my girlfriends' rumbling tummies filled with lovely Mexican fare.
(5)Brian E.
I recently spent 2 months living/working in Bordertown, Mexico. The irrational paranoia of getting shot or possibly decapitated was always alleviated with a trip to El Griego, a delicious hole-in-the-wall tacos al pastor joint. It may have only been a mile from the Rio Grande, but it felt like mucho, mucho más. Though I may never have an opportunity to eat those tacos again, they'll never leave my memory. So, naturally, back in Chicago my only choice is to find some sort of a replacement. I know my standards are set high, and I know I will never find anything comparable, but that damned tacos al pastor beast inside of me has to be tamed. I mistakenly ordered 6 tacos (I can put away 10 of those babies south of the border) and could only manage to put back 5. 6 was possible, but I didn't want to throw up on my bike ride home. The tacos were good: the meat was fresh, the cilantro and onion were present, and the salsa was fantastic. If only they had pastor on a spit... I'll definitely be back. They probably taste all the better when capping off a night of drinking.
(4)Kim J.
I'm very bad at stalking the tamale guy, so when I need a late-night Mexican fix, Traspasada is my go-to joint. The food is always freshly made, and it's about the least greasy Mexican I've ever had. They give you your choice of salsas to kick it up a notch. There are some interesting authentic dishes on the menu - the last time we were in, they gave us a little sample of the goat soup, which was just awesome. Tip: If you want a quick, cheap dinner, they also deliver until 10pm.
(5)jordyn e.
This place has some of the best pollo tacos, al pastor, and veggie tacos (avocado galore) in the city!! Extremely fast service, and everything has been perfect every time I've gone there. After finally finding this place, I would go three to four times a week before work or during work. If you're in the mood for truly fantastic, authentic Mexican food, you will not be disappointed. The only thing I'm not a huge fan of is the 'Tortas', but that's more of a personal preference. Also, as many have stated, it is Cash Only.
(5)Doe L.
I love a good hole in the wall... My taco were surprisingly stuffed with steak. Thanks to other reviews, my bf enjoyed the Al Pastor taco. And my first attempt with a Tripe Taco left me wanting seconds. My only thing is that there were no limes (we took to go)... I'm not sure if you're suppose to request those since I'm not really that familiar with more authentic Mexican places. But I was sad that it didn't come with any to drizzle over my onion/cilantro tacos... I wouldn't really recommend the sope to go. It was soggy & cold (10 minutes later) and just didn't taste that good like that. The prices weren't bad at all so I might drop by again.
(4)Angelo P.
Me and my dad's favorite place to get tacos in the city north of Madison! For all the folks who live in Wicker Park, this isn't the place to get your Americanized idea of Mexican food, its a place to get real authentic Mexican tacos...my old man pointed out that they come wrapped in wax paper just like in Mexico city...all the little things count :P Come enjoy a taco with your favorite meat and you will not be disappointed...definitely much better than the nearby and bland Lazo's tacos and whatever the one nextdoor to it is. Want real mexican tacos without having to go south of Madison? go here!
(5)Chris P.
Once again this place has done it again. Quick tacos and awesome taste. It has a 2 car loading zone for a quick pick up. CASH ONLY. Taco are reasonably priced. I guess their dinner menu could be priced better. They do have a dine in option for a few guest. Customer service is good.
(4)Cynthia R.
THE BEST tacos in Chicago. No doubt about it. The carne Asada and al pastor....the meat....seriously...I can't even write a full sentence. That juicy, flavorful deliciousness dripping onto my hands from the opposite side of the side I'm biting from. You don't even know how legit these tacos are...And the guys working there are really great as well.
(5)Keely S.
This is my spot for tacos. Al pastor, chicken, tilapia, steak, on holidays, chicharon, cabeza. Fresh food and friendly service - this is my favorite place for takeout. And.. I take them for granted. And tinge past week or more I go by and it's closed. They've been closed for more than a week and I'm distraught. I want tacos right now. What happened? Where are they? Is everything ok? I'm worried!
(5)Kris A.
Definitely my go-to place after I get late night beer munches in the city. It's cheap, authentic, and the guy at the register gives you one of the best freaking service you'll ever have. One night my boyfriend was walking up the counter to ask for some salsa and he somehow read his mind and gave it to him without having to ask. Another time I was supposed have 9 cents back after paying but he gave me dime instead cause he knew how much of a pain in the a** it is to have a nickel and 4 pennies in your wallet. I know its not much but these little gestures really stand out to me when I receive service of any kind. It lets me know that they're working above and beyond their expected responsibilites.
(5)Jennifer C.
Fast, cheap, tasty. Food is ready in 10 minutes. Burritos seem to have this umami flavor. This place never fails me.
(5)Tucker P.
Yo, this place is the truth! You can't go wrong with any choice and the ambiance kills. I been driving around my city turning my nose up at all my local Mexican restaurants since I visited this one. I'd caution against the cow brain taco unless you know and like it. It's like boiled gizzard. I was feeling adventurous and added it to my order. The preparation was amazing, like everything else, but I was bummed I didn't order something different. That's no knock on the spot, though, I'm just an idiot. Peace from Akron, Ohio.
(5)Chad E.
I enjoyed some pretty killer enchiladas verdes here, complete with some wonderfully classic rice and beans. This is my litmus test, and I will say that Traspasadas passed with flying colors. This place is tiny. No tables, just some counters and stools, so don't expect a sit-down experience. What you can expect, however, is sit-down quality service. They were so attentive, kind, and friendly--and fast! Cash only. Salsa verde is tangy and a touch smoky, so hit that up.
(4)Miles W.
There are a lot of really good taquerias in this part of town and I've tried just about every one of them, but La Traspasada is my favorite! Most important to me, the pastor meat is done just right: a key indicator of a quality Mexican restaurant. And I am completely hooked on their pozole! It's so good: big portion, enough to feed a group of four. And they hook up all the fixings. La Traspasada doesn't look like much. It's TINY. Just a little counter with a few spots for dining in. So you're not coming here for a date. On the other hand, they do a great carry out business, and the young fellow usually working the front counter is always very pleasant and helpful. But if you can be bothered to stay and dine-in, La Traspasada will sweeten the deal by giving you a complimentary cup of their daily soup, which is always good. Highly recommended if you're looking for a high quality, low cost Mexican lunch or dinner! p.s. They've also got a location up at California and Belmont with a lot more seating.
(5)Eric C.
Excellent authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. In particular, the burritos are big and flavorful. No free tortilla chips, but salsa is included if you dine in. Ambiance is not a forte: not much room for dine-in (only two rows of bar chairs).
(5)James V.
This is one of my favorite places in the city to get Tacos. Arrechetta Steak tacos are #1 thing here in my book. So juicy and have a great off the grill and straight from mexico taste. A free bowl soup is always a great as well. If you have time please try the "Chile Relleno" taco/torta dinner--It is a dream! My friend always orders the Shrimp cocktail and it looks fabulous :-)
(5)Kurt M.
Very good quick eat tacos and the goat soup was fantastic. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. They have a variety of salsas - try them all.
(5)Angelo C.
We love this place!! It is our go to taco joint where you can walk in order exactly what you want and walk out. We normally keep it simple with steak or chicken tacos with cilantro onion and add some cheese. I have thought about trying something new, but it's such a tough decision when our go to items are so good! They only take cash so make sure to come prepared.
(5)Elina S.
Taqueria Traspasada has always been on my bookmarked list to try after a drunken city night at 2am when all you want is some greasy, comfort Mexican food. Well, since I'm old and these 2am rendezvous don't happen as much as they should in your mid 20's, I dragged my hubby out on a Thursday night around 8pm just for a casual dinner. Was it worth coming out from the suburbs? Probably not. However, was it super delicious and definitely worth trying? Yes. The place is a hole in the wall, this is not your trendy or colorful Mexican joint, this is literally perfect for that 2am stop before going home to fill up on crazy, amazing burritos. Anyways, despite the environment, the guys working there seemed super friendly. We ordered the Pastor Burrito which I had and my hubby had the Carne Asada Burrito and I must say the Pastor was much much better. It was a big portion for $6.99 and it came with a little soup and salsa. The burrito was full of veggies and flavor and the pork was super moist, tender and had so much flavor. Like it was really good to the point that I'm clearly still thinking about it. The only issue is that it's too far from our house. We need a place like this open super late on the weekends that is that good. Only annoying part about this place is that it's cash only so keep that in mind. And who wants to count exact change when you're super drunkie at 2am, when you'd rather have him swipe that credit card. Well, in any case, we will probably be back after a downtown rendezvous whenever that will happen, but we won't be coming back for a simple burrito dinner from the burbs just for fun. That, was a one time only wonderful experience. But taqueria, keep on doing what you're doing and expand to the burbs!
(4)Monika S.
Taqueria Traspasada - One of the best place for a delicious Taco and Burrito! The Burrito al pastor.here so delicious, I remember my friend said how she crave for Burrito whenever she recalls Taqueria Traspasada's delicious burrto. The Huevos rancheros here was also unexpected, we never thought that they serve a good tasting Huevos rancheros here.
(4)Moorish L.
I went for the birria hoping it would be good. I regret to say that it was average at best. Also had a suadero taco which was ok. The four is because it does seem like the rest of their menu is pretty good and its a pretty authentic place. Worth to check it out.
(4)Robert O.
I've been having a rough time finding really good Mexican food in Chicago. Maybe I just don't get out enough. Tacos de cabeza, sesos, lengua, lomo encebollato. This place hits all the right buttons. There must be something in the air in Avondale. It seems like an epicenter of good things to put in your mouth.
(4)Mark E.
I had been to the restaurant up on N. California and it wasn't too bad so I decided to call the Ashland location to get an order for delivery. Was told they delivered, just not to my apartment complex which was 15 blocks away. Not only would the person on the phone say why they wouldn't deliver to my address, he had a very bad attitude. There are too many other great taquerias in Chicago to put up with bad customer service. The other people who like this place can keep them in business,
(1)Armand K.
Saturday. A long night of cocktails and conversation behind us and we've officially burned through the modest sized dinner consumed earlier in the evening. We were hungry. Yelp pointed us towards Traspasada, a well rated burrito joint steps away from our friends apartment and open until an astonishing 3:30AM - not a rarity by my hometown (NY) standards but certainly worth mentioning in Chicago. We arrive. The staff is halfway through the usual choreographed cleaning dance; flipping the stools, wiping the tables, and sweeping the floor, Semisonic may have been playing - it's all a bit foggy. We beg, plead, and negotiate for two more burritos to be made. After some back and forth, a beacon of hope comes in four words, "we only have steak." I think, only steak... well I guess THE BEST POSSIBLE OPTION will suffice. The urge to broverdose into visceral grunts of happiness, and game winning high fives was overwhelming. After what seemed like hours of pensive anticipation our burritos were delivered. A tear of joy almost rolled down my cheek as I pulled back the foil blanket the little bundle of joy was wrapped in. Buttery tortilla perfectly toasted, freshly minced onion and cilantro, hot off the grill steak melting the cheese around it. It was a masterpiece. A $7 masterpiece. Yes, I had a few cocktails. Yes, my dinner earlier that evening wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible, nor was I intoxicated to the point where a dollar slice can be confused for edible. Nonetheless, I had my doubts. How could a stumbled-upon 3AM burrito surpass all that NY, SF, LA, and every other place that arguably has "the" best burrito? I don't know. Further investigation was required. Round two was during normal business hours. Instead of the carne asada I chose the chicken. The TV was playing Ghost Rider and while Nicholas Cage en español was an experience in itself, the chicken burrito proved that my suspicions were true. These are the best burritos ever. Thanks for ruining every other taqueria. Until next time Traspasada, until next time...
(5)Chris B.
A very classic, take-away style taqueria. The only seating is a handful of barstools, but the food is delicious. Probably the best Torta Ahogado I've had outside the southwest. Staff was also friendly, and I think they threw in some soup just because it was cold out.
(5)Manuel A.
CASH ONLY! The pastor was bomb! The carne asada was a little dry. I am from LA and eat tacos all the time, so I might be used to eating "authentic" tacos. Don't get me wrong this place was good at 1am after a night of drinking. The pastor was the bomb!
(4)Martin P.
I like it. Friendly staff, low prices but quality food.
(4)Rokey T.
The fact that they have stayed open for so long should be a testament to their food and service. Consistently nice cashiers and workers. Tasty food that is made in a jiffy. Small space, but has a tv! Great for a quick bite to eat. Open til 3AM on weekends
(4)Chan K.
Excellent food - carne asada and tripe tacos are superb. I love the birria although I wish the meat were a bit leaner. The beef in chile arbol sauce is hot enough to even make me sweat! My only gripe is that one time I came in wanting a snack and ordered a side of beans. $3 bucks seamed like highway robbery for your average side of beans, but it's something I pretty much never order alone so no big deal. The beans were good but were a bit heavy so I requested some pico de gallo to cut the beans. Pico is offered free of charge even if you order just a couple of tacos. The counter guy basically refused to give me pico de gallo for free. I understand pico de gallo not typically an accompaniment for a side of beans, but it's dirt cheap. He really made me feel unwelcome and clearly recognized me a as a regular. I really don't want to come back here now even though I've been a customer for years.
(2)Amanda S.
i did everything i should've done before heading here: i was at a hoppin' birthday bash not too far away, had a little too much fun, and had an awesome designated driver who i could thank for putting up with me with tacos. i easily ordered enough food for three people. all tacos, all topped traditionally (cilantro and onions): - carne asada - barbacoa - carne molida - chorizo - lomo encebollado - tilapia we got these to go. the kind gentleman also gave me a free horchata (which, after you stir the chunks of coagulated cinnamon around on the bottom, is actually pretty tasty..and the reason why this review is two stars, not one). all in all, the trip seemed successful. and then i got home. everything was bland. the corn tortillas were inconsistent in texture. some were soggy, others tough. the meat, while textured seemingly perfectly, lacked ANY type of flavor. i grabbed the tilapia out of the tortilla and cabbage slaw to see if i could taste anything extraordinary, and while it was honestly the best out of all the tacos, it was likely only because the fish was lightly fried. green chile did nothing to enhance the protein. it was so disappointing that i didn't even want to spend my caloric intake on that nonsense. it just wasn't worth it to me. so i rolled up all the foil with the sad leftover foodbits, tossed it into the rubbish bin, and called it a night.
(2)Eddy M.
Guacamole sucked. Tomatoes, onion lightly mixed in very little avocado. Tacos were good. Horchata good. Salsa good
(3)Ashley C.
The next step on my "taco quest" brought me here. All i can say is Wow. I definitely understand the yelp reviews here. The place is small with limited counter seating but it packs a punch. (Note: It can get a bit crowded inside.) While it may not be the cheapest taco in the area, it is delicious and full of flavor. My favorite is probably the asada or pastor. They both have so much flavor. The simple preparation with onions and cilantro lets the meat shine. The tomato like soup they brought with the tacos were also amazing. Service is good. Yo quiero más tacos from here!
(4)Osiris V.
Like I said.....4.5 Yelp stars don't lie and neither does my aunt when she says the barbacoa tacos are exactly the way she used to get them in el DF. So naturally that's what I got during my taco crawl. Actually a lot of my fellow crawlers got barbacoa and from what they said, they enjoyed them as well. The tacos were made the way they were meant to be eaten, juicy and fatty. I, being the picky little brat I am, picket out the fat and put some of their delicious salsa on it. Along with the cilantro, cebollas, sal y limon, this taco was the BOMBA! Yea, I couldn't say that in English, it wouldn't do it justice. I've also had the carne asada tacos and cecina tacos, those are equally tasty. The multi-tasking cooks (cooks, waiters, cashiers, busboys) were so nice, they're the only ones running the joint and they're doing a perfect job. Yes, it's a small joint and by small, I mean small. But we all fit there! I was shocked. I've only been there twice but I have a feeling I'll be going there as much as possible.
(5)Nancy P.
Nachos are not memorable, but their burritos are pretty great. Perfect hangover cute, Gloria behind the counter is incredibly sweet! Steak can be chewy, but the chicken is delicious.
(4)Logan R.
I come here regularly (usually when drunk) for the veggie burrito. It's one of the best in the city.
(5)Maureen S.
There are lots of great taquierias in Chicago- let the yuppies blow their paychecks at Big Star, and leave the authentic taquieria experience to those who can appreciate the finer points of low-brow Mexican food. This place has a pretty big menu- everything from the steak tacos to the veggie tortas to the salsa is delicious, cheap, and served really quick. Best spot for a quick supper or lunch near Chicago and Ashland, with super nice folks behind the counter who deserve all the tips you can give.
(5)Linda E.
The Best tacos hands down! I travel to get them. Fast service and cheap prices! U will not b disappointed! I used to frequent la passadita until I tried this place. Needless to say I have not returned to La passadita...
(4)Brianna E.
Having recently moved from Austin to Atlanta, I have experienced a marked lack of good south-of-the-border fare. While visiting Chicago, I ate here and it was great. I got the chimichanga con todo with lengua. It was pretty great. The lengua was mild and tender. It was HUGE. My husband and I ordered the same thing and we could have split it. They have this excellent black salsa. They also have good aguas fees as and chips.
(5)Aimee M.
A camper? A trailer? A hallway? This was the smallest of the small taco joints Osi V led us to on the Taco Crawl. Stop #5. Barbacoa. The barbacoa tacos are big, filling and full of calorie laden meaty fatty goodness and not expensive at all (cheap!!!) Even though the place is small, if you can find a seat inside, they will bring your food out to you. Bless their hearts. I loved all the different kinds of sodas you can get too. Because nothing erases the calories you ate more than a diet coke (yes, I'm that kind of girl). But this time I opted for a Squirt--I love Squirt! For such a tiny place, the digs are pretty clean and their menu is huge! I saw Mexican corn cakes on the menu (and I forgot the name of them) I really wanted to try them but alas, this was a taco crawl. I can see how this place is popular late night. Maybe a late night taco crawl is in the works. Paging Osi V....
(4)Cris O.
With so many taquerias to go to, one asks which of them all is: 1) authentic 2) has fresh and TASTY GOOD food. and 3) has good friendly people, well let me write you this place has all of them 3!!! =) YES, really this tiny little taqueria is PERFECT!!! The food here is that good. So good I had to get on yelp to express my views. :) I came here of course reading many yelp reviews. I knew what I was coming to! Little did I know I was going to be blown away with fully packed flavors on my tacos! Having a Mexican background and visiting the beautiful country itself; I'd like to give me some credit on legit flavors our taquerias offer. Having said this, I can only state one thing! WOWZERS!!! I came in to try several tacos, because if you want a sample of Mexico in one plate it definitely would involve a taco platter. --I had to taste their "al pastor"- after all they're an essential stamp of Mexican eatings; and let me tell you, they're they BEST al pastor tacos I've had! The flavor they marinate their pork is like nothing else. The sweetened and sautéed onions only give it the extra punch- but really it's just the seasonings they add! Again wow to that AL POSTOR pork tacos, which I am so sure it'll make the best burrito. Btw; My tacos were so good I ordered 2 more of the same. :) --I also ordered their carne asada(steak) tacos, which I was impressed. Very few places actually grill their steak; many fall flat and just add it to a flattop. Fortunately, they actually add it to the grill, makes it taste even better. --Also, if you've never tried "barbacoa" you must try it here. It's slow cooked sheep- simply and delicious. They have one of the best barbacoa tacos I've tried! Ever, like the ones I tried in Mexico!!! I really enjoyed eating here, although, the size isn't a problem for me for others it may be. When I mean tiny, I mean it only seat 9-12 people max for a full house. Despite this everything is GREAT! Ps. They make their tacos with the same tortillas I use at home( the yellow corn tortillas) so much better than the usual white corn tortillas they have at many other Mexican joints. Make those tacos taste even better ;)
(5)John B.
I came here twice...the first time they were out of nearly every meat I wanted. The second time, they were fully stocked. Anyhow, my favorite Mexican food is al pastor, by a long shot, so I decided to try this place out due to the favorable Yelp reviews. I had three tacos, one al pastor, one cachete barbacoa, and the other carne asada. They were all decent, but nothing special. I asked for flour tortillas, and they gave me corn. Their salsa was smoky but generally flat in flavor, and the pastor just didn't pack as much punch as what I have had elsewhere. The cachete was probably the best out of the three, but still not as good as what I've had elsewhere. They've really got a variety of authentic and obscure meats on the menu, which really perked my interest initially, but their flavors are just a little flat. The best thing I had all night was a carne asada spicy soup that they served me as a complimentary appetizer. I could go back for a big bowl of that. Overall, this place was good, but nothing I would rave about. It was also very pricey for being a tiny little taco dive. I paid almost $12 for three tacos and a soda, although I did get sour cream and cheese on my tacos.
(3)Danny J.
best pastor in the city--- go burrito over taco
(5)Paul G.
ughhh YEAH! JUST GO! get the tripe taco, dont ask what is it, don't bitch about when you figure out what it is.. and JUST EAT! that is... if youre not a wuss. and if you complete this steps. you will be cursed. The curse that any other food in the world cannot fulfill the hunger you have like this place can. YUMMMYYYYYYY TRIPE! get it crispy or medium. and definitely go after a night a drinking. the guys here are nice. the place is cheap. A cab once drove into their kitchen... THATS HOW GOOD IT IS! seriously! haha enjoy. [didn't like the beef so much... i would stick to the pork -al pastor or the tribe] i initially gave it four stars.. but then i thought to myself. this is the best tripe taco ive had ever. so yeah 5 stars! WOO!
(5)Ryan B.
Well what a disappointment. I live nearby this place and it had great reviews so I figured why not give it a shot. 25$ later, what a waste. The nachos looked like someone literally threw 10 chips, globs of different ingredients and shook it all up. For the great price of 10$! Next two small tasteless tacos. I guess the burrito was alright but overall I would never go back here let alone recommend it to anyone else!!
(1)Tim H.
Great quick tacos. Came for dinner and the food came out in a couple minutes. The al pastor taco was awesome. Nicely charred and with a red sweet sauce. The chicken taco had ground meat in it which I find unique for a taco place, but I did find it good. Barbacoa was good as well, but I preferred the other two meats.
(4)Janique D.
Don't judge a book/restaurant by it's cover! This place is incredibly TINY and very unassuming, there's very few seats and it's not licensed however having said all that, it's SO delicious! and cheap! My fiancé and I cursed and eye rolled our way through all of our tacos...then we got more! We tried the tilapia, chorizo, flank steak and chicken. All of them were equally as tasty as the next! This place is unpretentious, cheap and great for a quick bite!
(5)E P.
Simply put, these are the best tacos and burritos you will find anywhere, GUARANTEED!!!!! I understand there is another location with this same name but do not confuse it. They have 2 different owners and are not the same. This place is located at 811 N Ashland ave . Whether you go at 2 pm or 2 am as you approach this little taqueria you will be greeted with the aroma of steak cooking and that alone will draw you in. You'll not only smell the aroma but you'll see the smoke coming from the chimney from the grill above the street as the carne asada masters are grilling the awesome steak. when you walk in you're greeted by a very friendly young man who takes your order. I enjoy the steak tacos with onion ,cilantro, and cheese ( this is all you need to savor the true taste of steak tacos ) They are not greasy because the steak is grilled on the grated grill like your bbq grill, not the customary flat grill as you see in many restaurants ( this makes the meat greasy plus doesn't taste the same) They offer steak, chicken, al pastor (mexican bbq -which is just as good ) tongue, brain, and birria on weekends. Oh yeah you must try the barbacoa tacos. this place steams the barbacoa ( steamed beef ) just right with the fat cut off so its not even greasy or tough. and if you want the large version of any of these just order the burritos( they feel like they weigh about 2-3 lbs. mmmm gooood!! of course you can't go wrong with the platters which are served with fresh rice and beans. They also serve alcohol or you can order a fresh lemonade drink or horchata ( rice water- one of the best I've tasted around ) if you dine in ,you sit at the counter tops they have and they bring out complimentary chips and 3 different types of salsa ( i prefer the dark black salsa infused with garlic , and its not that overbearing hot taste neither, its just right ) and they also give you a complimentary small bowl of soup, sometimes its birria soup, you never know but its always good. The food is great, I usually get 2 steak tacos and 1 barbacoa and if i'm really hungry I'll get the chile relleno taco plain ( stuffed pepper with cheese ) if the seeds are kept in then its spicy hot but usually its medium and boy is it good. And if I do all 4 of these at the same time plus a lemonade or horchata and sometimes just a plain ol coke it'll run me about 10 or 11 dollars and let me tell you tht these tacos pack enough meat in them to look like a burrito. Food, Service, Cleanliness and Prices are all excellent for this location on Ashland and Chicago. I've tried other local taco places in the area but this place is so good that I just had to write about it. IT'S THE BOMB!! I'm getting hungry now just thinking about it so I think its tacos for me tonight. off street parking, they have a delivery service, prices are good, great selection off the menu, cash only at this place but well worth every penny.fast service, you literally get your food within 2-3 minutes of ordering. It's great to stop and eat any time of the day and if you're out late on the weekends ,they stay open until 3 am , and 2 am during the week. this place gets super crowded on the late night weekends , that's how good they are., Give it a try, or drive in to the city for some REAL CARNE ASADA TACOS, I guarantee you will say that you've never had anything better, I know I haven't. This place gets 5 tortillas (stars) mmmmmmmmgoooooooood!!!!!
(5)Teek S.
I enjoyed it and would eat there again. It's not the best place but good value. I would recommend the pastor, so good.
(4)Eileen K.
Only reason they get 3 is because their other food is decent. Stay away from the posole.
(3)Brent G.
Situated in an unassuming building at the corner of Ashland and Chicago in the East Village, this little taqueria cranks our some amazingly fresh Mexican food. After visiting a flashy but very mediocre and expensive place on North Avenue (patronized by what appeared to be suburbanites who had wandered off the freeway on their way to Michigan Avenue) we decided to get real and eat where the locals eat. Bolstered by 140+ positive Yelp reviews we jumped into this place right after mass on Sunday. Sitting in barstools while enjoying the all-Spanish interview with Justice Sonya Sotomayor on Univision (no one but my three year-old actually speaks Spanish--apparently the babysitter is teaching him as I witnessed him greet everyone with a joyful Hola!), we experienced truly delicious and well-presented, made-to-order Mexican food. I had the chorizo tacos and Julia the carne asada. The munchkins ate a variety of nachos, tacos, and quesadillas. The meats were tasty and not too greasy, the rice perfectly cooked, and the veggies super fresh. The limes were the greenest I have every seen in a restaurant. Everyone was satisfied and we fed seven people for under $50, tax, tag, and title. Ultra-casual family lunch perfected.
(5)Marie R.
Yummy! I ordered nachos after a drunken night with a girlfriend and thought I enjoyed it so the next day I ordered the nachos again and a chicken burrito (dinner) for a breaking bad series finale party (of one lol) the next day. Oops...didn't realize I'd spent nearly $20 bucks for a dinner on myself, but it's okay I was splurging. The nachos (with ground beef) were tasty, but you'd think at a restaurant like this they'd be stacked up tall. The chicken burrito was pretty good but not spectacular. Overall, I'm a fan and would go back. Besides it's literally a block a way from my apartment so I might as well come back on a regular basis.
(4)Lindsay D.
Cash only hidden gem, love the horchata and al pastor! My favorite tacos in the city thus far. Great prices
(5)Partha A.
The al pastor was good. The barbacoa was not. Carne asada was mediocre. The guac wasn't flavorful. In all meh.
(3)Ali H.
There is a 4am taco joint right down the street from my apartment. I'm already interested. Wait, they have good yelp reviews too?? I checked this place out for dinner when I was NOT drunk, and it was NOT 4am, and the food was still AWESOME! Think of how much better it will be when I'm stone cold drunk on a saturday night with the munchies?! We had a burrito and a torta, and shared both. We had steak in one and al pastor in the other. Both meats were badass. I think we slightly preferred the torta, and the burrito was pretty salty. That said, the food was fresh, well seasoned, and well proportioned, and well priced. Neighborhood taco joint? Check!
(4)LeTran B.
Very cheap with great, friendly service. The al pastor meat was perfectly seasoned. I found their chorizo was a bit too lean and dry for my taste. However, I liked my burritos in general. The burritos came with just meat, lettuce, onion, and tomato. No rice or beans which I liked. The extra avocado portion was very generous for the added price ($0.50).
(5)Kate H.
I buy tacos/burritos here at least 2x/month. It's one of the only places that reminds me of the great taquerias I used to frequent when I lived in Austin, TX. Amazing prices, great food. Always ask for the red sauce, they hide it in the cooler, but it's far superior to the green!
(5)Colin A.
I love the saying "don't judge a book by its cover." Taqueria Tradpasada is a perfect example of this -- looks like a hole in the wall but serves amazing food. When someone says "authentic" Mexican -- this is it. Delicious tacos (double tortilla, fresh cilantro and onions), two types of homemade salsas...and a ridiculously sized menu (given the size of the place) make choosing a meal difficult. No matter, I'll always go tacos -- I had three chicken and could have easily taken down 3-4 more. Extensive drink selection depending on your desires. This is the perfect spot for a quick summertime stop-in when visiting Chicago...mmm, orange soda and chicken tacos. I'll be back for sure. Notes: limited parking (walk/bike it), cash only, Spanish fluency not required
(5)Pedro L.
Weren't lying about the pastor tacos. Damn. Keep in mind that this review is only for the pastor tacos and burrito. Everything else I've had here is pretty, meh? Definitely my favorite tacos in Chicago, which is kind of a big thing considering there are a billion taco places here, but for whatever reason their steak, chicken, and other tacos just don't do the trick. Oh, and on my quest to find the greatest tampiqueno I'm sorry to say, but this place doesn't make the top 5. That being said, best tacos, and I plan on going here very frequently, especially with the great service you get... annnnd they deliver. Booya!
(4)Tom C.
Used to be a great neighborhood deal. Very good, straightforward Mexican food. However, the hike in prices just don't justify when there are a few comparable tacos in the neighborhood. El Taco Velo just moved up to be the best deal in the neighborhood. Traspasada will still be the best for late night in the neighborhood, though (Veloz closes at midnight, this place is open late).
(3)Joanna K.
I have mixed feelings. I ordered a taco dinner with al pastor tacos, verbatim, and the gentlemen behind the counter gave me 2 tacos and nothing else and then insisted that was I asked for. I paid extra for the rice and beans and think I ended up paying more than for a taco dinner but its not a huge deal. As for the food... The rice and beans are great. Soo many places make them bland, but theirs were top notch. My only complaint is the the beans to rice ratio was off. There was only a small dollop of beans. I was really craving some al pastor tacos but I just want feeling it. They were decent but they were served with grilled onions, which I'm not used to, so it did not settle my craving. I would try them again though.
(3)Ramya P.
Good option for those days when you're craving Mexican food at 2am... The nachos, veggie taco n chilles rellenos that me and my husband shared were good and was worth the $20 we spent on them. I would recommend take out or delivery as its a tiny joint.
(4)Jon I.
The food is simply the best fast Mexican food in Chicago. I've been here about 50 times, I usually get a chicken burrito with chicken, rice, cheese and onions along with a pastor taco (and a steak quesadilla if it's late enough). Same friendly guy at the counter every time. They're open late. Don't forget to bring cash and make sure to grab a Mexican coke.
(5)Lance S.
Frequent visitor for the al pastor tacos. Corn tortilla tacos overflowing with spicy marinated pork with cilantro and onions. Open late to satisfy the drunk munchies but also tasty enough to order for lunch/dinner sober. Service is friendly and prices are reasonably. Still need to try the goat soup they advertise on the weekends....
(5)Suzy D.
We came here again! We are in love with this place. This time we tried the pork skin tacos wtih green sauce and we also got some nachos. So delicious and cheap!
(5)Aldi J.
Everyone talks about La Pasadita, but you got this gem just blocks down the street. This is my go to cheap dinner. It's also the place a bring my friends when you've had that late night out and you are dying to eat something hahahaha. (I know everything tastes good at that point, but this place is gooooood). I have yet to try their dinners but some people seem to really like them. I go here mainly for the tacos and burritos. Super cheap w/ variety? Yes please. My favorite is the Al Pastor. The others are excellent also... barbacoa, steak, chicken, beef. They are usually generous with the green sauce. I'd recommend asking for limes. A small squeeze makes the tacos that much better. Cash only and small so plan for take out!
(5)Kim B.
I can see why people from Chicago would enjoy the Mexican food here but it still doesn't compare to what you can get in San Diego. The al pastor was tasty and they give you a lot of meat for your money. But for me, I still miss the al pastor tacos from Tacos El Gordo in California..
(3)Joshua C.
Great food and service!!! I am a regular here. I love there food.
(4)Brett K.
Better than ever, these guys are awesome and know exactly what they are doing. Pastor tacos, ERMAHGERD!! P.S. Enjoy the red ghost and yellow scorpion peppers guys. Let me know what you try them in, be careful!
(5)Holly H.
This is the BEST taco place in the city! The food is awesome & affordable, service is fast, it's always clean inside, and the people that work there are ALWAYS so friendly. So, thank you for the great food and service!
(5)Paul S.
2 taco platter, with a tablespoon of beans, rice and head lettuce, got the pork, it tastes like it was made and overcooked yesterday $10 down the drain
(1)Thomas I.
Stopped in for two steak tacos, which come standard with onion & cilantro (I also added avocado). They were tasty, and ready in under 60 seconds, which is probably a record for Chicago-area taquerias I've visited, and also indicates that they had the steak already cooked & ready--which some might say isn't a good thing. The tacos were tasty, but I have to give them a low rating because they don't serve free water. I'm of the belief that any restaurant should let you have a glass of water for free, but these guys want to push bottled drinks on you. That's unacceptable, and they lose two stars for it.
(2)Stephanie B.
Delicious and simple. We got vegetarian tacos and a vegetarian burrito. The tacos were fantastic. Double shells, a good mix of rice, beans, avo, onion, lettuce and tomatoes. The cilantro was just right! The shells are to die for. This is coming from someone who is anti-tortilla. Sister says the burrito was good. She is a chipotle aficionado (wait, don't stop reading! we know it's not authentic in the slightest, but don't try to deny chipotle doesn't taste good!) and said while it was completely different, she ranks it on par. The service was excellent- the man working the register was extraordinarily nice and didn't mind that, as it was our first time there, we took our time figuring out what we wanted. Not the cheapest place, but damn good and worth the 2.85/taco. The burrito was a bit pricier at almost 8 bucks but Sister reported it filled her up and she didn't feel terrible about herself after, so I think that's a win.
(4)Jelena Z.
Taqueria Traspasada is basically the size of a trailer. One HOT little trailer! I walked up to the somewhat scary facade, not knowing whether to expect a scene from 'No Country for Old Men' or simply some of the best authentic Mexican eats I've come across in Chicago. Luckily, it was the latter. The young man waiting for me at the counter did not look like Javier Bardem, I wasn't challenged to a coin toss, and no drug deals went awry. What I did find, however, was insanely delicious Mexican food. My friend had the al pastor tacos, served simply with onions, cilantro and tomatoes. I sprung for the carne asada burrito (the version which comes dressed with onions, cilantro, bright green lettuce, tomato, cheese, a light brush with sour cream and a bit of avocado). Brilliant! What was consistent between both of our meals? The 'oohs' and 'ahhs' that were simultaneously uttered as we attempted to describe our respective meat choices. This no-nonsense taqueria is cash only. The staff? Sweet as honey pie. The digs? So small only a few can eat-in at a time. Oh, and the door is so close to the curb that you risk inhaling exhaust fumes as we did. Did I love it all anyway? Hell YES. See you next week.
(5)Becca M.
I have been meaning to eat there for a while. I finally got a chance yesterday and I have to say, I have been missing out. It was slow when I went there which is not usually a good time to go eat tacos but despite that the meat for the Al Pastor tacos was very tasty and the tortillas fresh. The portion was generous, and the salsa was delicious. The service was very good. The guy asked me a couple times if everything was good, and when I dropped an already squeeze lime wedge, he rushed another one. Next I am going to try Suadero, which is a staple of Taco stands in Mexico City.
(5)Diablo L.
Stopped in for a quick bite,had steak tacos and al pastor tacos,they were very good,the steak tacos were my favorite,very good flavor,this place has a huge menu,need to go back and try other items
(4)Mike B.
Fantastic! The food is very good. We 4 people in our group and tried a variety of things. The Al pastor, chorizo, and barbacoa were the big winners of the group. The carne asda was solid but amazing. We tried a variety of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. The staff was very friendly and did a wonderful job. They also gave us some soup to try and it was excellent.
(4)Kim J.
TT's rocks. Absolutely delicious food. Family run business. VERY annoyingly no credit cards... please please please accept them guys! Charge me more, I understand you have to pay fees, but I don't have cash.
(4)Mary M.
Traspasada, I love you. The quickest, tastiest, most awe-inspiring tacos in the whole damn city. Oh, how I love you.
(5)ross s.
Ive been here a few times now, and each time I am impressed! I love this places tacos and burritos. The torta I had once was awesome too. I hit up taquerias all over the place, I will drive to the best tacos. This place is easily the best. The service is also A1, they are friendly and helpful. Also, if you are in to some adventurous eating, they have brain tacos! I havent tried them, Im actually a little afraid, but with carne asada and al pastor being as good as they are, its hard to not get them every time. If you like mexican food (its my favorite) then come to this place, I have only been here in the afternoons for lunch, so I dont know what its like at night, but they are open late. Enjoy!
(5)Kyle H.
After a full day of walking at the Shedd Aquarium, my sister, my son and I were in need of a good quick meal. Taqueria La Traspasada #2 provided that and more! The inside is clean, but there's barely a square inch to spare! A couple of stools against the wall or windows is the only seating provided. Step up to make your order from their incredibly huge menu...you can't go wrong with the tacos! Tacos come with cilantro, onions, and tomatoes. I'm not a huge fan of too much cilantro, but the portion here was just right! My son loved his ground beef tacos, I loved the Al Pastor and the Seasoned Steak (Cesada). The meat was awesomely seasoned, and not full of gristle and fat. Tacos are cheap, less than $2/piece, and they come out steaming hot. We were also given a couple of small cups of a spicy beef soup while we waited. Service is polite, restaurant is clean, tacos are incredibly cheap and tasty! So why play "1,2,3, which taqueria to the north is the 'Good One'?" Just go to Taqueria La Traspasada!
(5)Pascal M.
Save the Al Pastor grease for later, it works great as a hair gel. After getting off the train, I rode my bike here before meeting up wih some friends. I like the location, lot of nice spots to eat in Noble Square. The interior is a lot smaller than what you typically expect for inexpensive mexican food. However I like the cramped & dive style atmosphere they got going on inside. Their Al Pastor seemed to be the item to get, so I went simple and got a burrito. It was excellent, I was famished and it hit the spot perfectly. The hot sauces they provide are addictive, and you may find your self doing the New Mexican style "Christmas Tree" approach by spreading a little love of both sides onto your next bite. They have some other desirable items. One that really stood out was their Shrimp Cocktail. It looked really fresh and fun to eat. Served in a big margarita glass, with a spicy tomatoe cocktail mix, fresh cilantro and onions, with big lumps of shrimp. The guy next to me got a Torta, which also looked really good. Especially the bolillo roll it was served on. I'd love to come here late night and grab some party food. Probably a blast to hang out inside with a rowdy crowd and maybe eat your food right out front on a summer night. Quite simply, Taqueria Traspasada is an in n' out Mexican restaurant that can KO the majority of the thousands of similar establishments that litter our diverse city.
(5)Avi G.
Best tacos in the City! I LOVE the steak tacos and the sopes. Salas are fantastic and can't find a small taco joint that tops Traspasada. This is more of a carry out but they do have barstools and two countertops for eating in.
(5)Dawn P.
iv passed by this place so many times and always said that i want to go in and try there steak tacos and today i finally did all i can say is yummmm. There tacos are absolutely delicious. Im so happy I finally did and ill be a regular. I wish there were open 24 hours a day.
(4)Steve M.
This is the burrito that beat Pasadita! It's more fresh, has real lettuce, tomato and diced onion, not as reliant on beans as filling, and actually tasted better. Plus, the guy who served us had some personality and gave us the impression that he cares about our business (something Pasadita has honestly *never* done). Taqueria Traspasada, this is the beginning of a beyoooootiful friendship!
(4)Reuben H.
Look- I am just glad that I don't feel the need to go to that three-headed monster up the road, and from what I could tell in only one quick visit, Traspasada has better tacos anyway. The fact that they are yet another late night dining option in the new 'hood, and they offer all the bits of meat that "los gueros tontos como yo" prefer is another reason why I need to get on my bike even more often, or possibly brave this heat and run a bit more. Just beware of drunk dudes not getting out of your way when you walk in and want to order. Next time I'll be sure to bring my shiv and shank a fool for getting in the way of my al pastor and lengua and lomo... Man I'm hungry just thinking about it... The tacos, not the violence.
(4)Hannah N.
Best al pastor tacos I have ever had. And that includes the streets of Mexico. Perfect fat to savory tender meat ratio. That amazing spicy sweet seasoning. The smoky caramelization. Oh dear god. I couldn't stop thinking about the taco all day today after having them yesterday. I am sincerely salivating thinking about them right now. Boyfriend was totally amused that I refused to talk to him (save for the occasional appreciative Mmmmm Mmmmm which in retrospect sounds really inappropriately sensual) throughout dinner because i was way too preoccupied with savoring the flavor (code: stuffing my face). My roommate just asked me if they were better than big star's tacos.. My answer was WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. No contest. Good thing they're open so late... I might just go get another one right now... And I'm not even hungry. I mean if they are this good sober, I can't even imagine what they would be like drunk. P. S. take-out is not nearly as good cause the meat loses that delicate crisp, so much better fresh.
(5)Kristel S.
My favorite late night meal in the neighborhood! Each little taco comes with two tortillas so you can make two tiny tacos to make things more manageable--not that I'm telling you to only get one, because you should definitely order at least two. I pretty much stick to the carneasada or the chorizo tacos, but the burritos also look good. There's a few stools if you wanna stay in and eat--the cashier is super friendly (it's pretty refreshing when you're wasted and tired), but I'm fan of walking and eating tacos :)
(4)Hana B.
LOVE THIS PLACE (esp for late night, drunk food). I always get the avocado torta, an order of chips and salsa, and horchata. Super fast, and their salsa is seriously my fave among all the Mexican joints (super fresh). Just a warning: their salsa is also SUPER SPICY (drinking horchata helps though!). This place is tiny (it can probably only seat 8-10 max), so if you have a huge group of people, you probably just want to order your food to go. Don't forget cash $$$
(5)T J.
Fresh chicken and vegetarian burrito. Love the fresh cilantro. Chicken is done so well. Flavorful.
(5)Eric L.
fantastic tacos for basically no money. how the hell do places like this stay in business? it always amuses me to think that they could raise prices .25 and the owner would see a 20% boost to his annual bottom line. get al pastor and choriqueso tacos
(4)Adam K.
Great tacos. Ordered the beef toungue, chorizo and al pastor. All three were delicious. Loved the soup beforehand. Loved the sauces to go along with the tacos. My only mistake was ordering the chimichanga. This was a train wreck. It was soggy, not crispy, and it was gooped with cheese and a really weird horrible ground beef mixture. Just STICK with the tacos.
(3)Alison V.
I LOVE this taqueria; it is definitely in my top 5 in Chicago! The cashier who's name I don't know but I know his face is super nice. The food is delicious and the value is great. I really love that they serve fideo/tomato soup before every meal on the weekdays - it makes me feel at home. :O) The only reason why I give a four star review instead of a five is because I've never been a fan of how small the establishment is. It gets crowded on the weekends and I can't 100% enjoy the meal that way but nonetheless, I come back because it is amazing.
(4)SunnyAndLeonard E.
Partly raised in California, half of this reviewing duo has been disappointed by the Mexican options in Buffalo, where we currently reside. Whenever we visit a larger city, we find ourselves ravenous for some south-of-the-border treats, and we rank this place's Al Pastor among the burrito elite. In fact, we rank this place as one of Chicago's top attractions, edible and otherwise. You won't find a better use for your time and money within the city limits. Go for it.
(5)Sharad K.
I have eaten at this restaurant at least 20 times. It is consistently excellent. You can't go wrong with this place. All the food is made to order and their customer service is excellent.
(5)Nate L.
Oh boy, finally a taco joint I can enjoy! Tacos are priced from 1.99-2.19 depending on your choice of meat, I ordered 2 chorizo, 2 cabeza and 1 carne asada. I had no idea how big the tacos were so I took a gamble. And it was a gamble I shouldn't have taken. Meats were falling out of the tortilla, topped with simple onions and cilantro, they were a match made in heaven. A lot of places serve their chorizos way too salty but this place...... wooooohoooooo. GOOD SH#%. Even their cabeza and asada are seasoned perfectly. Another awesome thing is, that actually give you a bottle of their home made salsas (green and red) so you can put as much as you want! I did some damage to their red salsa! It's not too far away from my work so I'm definitely gonna revisit this place soon!
(5)Bilbo B.
They make a good veggie burrito and they're always open late. Cash only though.
(4)Stephanie A.
Best tacos I have had in Chicago. These are authentic Mexican tacos. They have a great variety of tacos. They also have great burritos. Just be cautioned that this location is cash only but there is a bank of America ATM across the street.
(5)Triphena W.
Great, authentic hole-in-the-wall. I really like the steak burrito. Say yes to cilantro and onions, squeeze the lime inside, and use the red and green salsas. Their tacos are also good and generously meat-filled compared to other Mexican spots. Most people seem to order their food to go, but there are about eight or so bar stools for dining in. The food seems less greasy than other taco/burrito joints. Could be viewed as a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. Easy street parking. Stop by Hoosier Mama Pie Company for dessert. I'm a fan.
(4)S F.
Came here on a Saturday evening around 9pm. The place was almost empty except another couple that was eating in as well. The place is really small with some bar stools and barely any space to walk inside. The menu of items is extensive and I had to ask for help when trying to order our meal. The person at the counter was very helpful and easy to talk to. We ordered a carne asada platter and Tampiquena carne asada platter. I also ordered the horcata which was awesome and creamy! When our meals came out, I noticed there was a decent amount of lettuce, tomatoes, rice and beans in addition to the meat. The Tampiquena also came with an enchilada and guacamole. The one thing I would have liked better is if the meat was not so chewy or left rare as it was served. Otherwise, it was a good, hearty meal. And the people working there came by many times to ask if the meal was good or if we needed anything else (not expected at places where you order at a counter, pay there and then grab a seat). While we were eating, we noticed quite a few people stopped in to take out food. Seemed like a joint people in the neighborhood visited frequently. I think the place was good to give it a try but I'd probably go elsewhere to get my fix of Mexican food next time.
(3)Fygar F.
Excellent place for carryout - my favorite when CTA bus tracker says I have at least 7 minutes before the 9 Ashland bus comes. The steak burrito has plenty of tasty steak as well as a healthy portion of veggies so you won't feel heavy, just perfectly satisfied.
(5)Irene G.
I for sure will be a regular here. Effective today, I am never going anyplace else other than Taqueria Traspasada for takeout steak burrito or for Mexican food for that matter. Yes, it's a little pricey -$7 for a burrito, but worth every penny. Definitely the best burrito I have had! Who doesn't like cilantro and onion on their food? No waiting here. Your order is ready in less than 5 minutes. :)
(5)Arthur M.
I have worked in restaurants for ten years and am as nice as they come, but the guys who work here are wicked nice. The counter is good. The tacos are good.
(5)Krista K.
I love this place. It is very small and neighborhood-y. There are only stools really, no place to sit. It is very clean and neat and the service is very sweet and nice. Lovely view of the bus stop. ;) The food is really flavorful and they are very generous with the limes. This is the place to go. Not La Pasadita, which is super dirty and terrible. (I wish we would do what NY and London do with the health department scores on the doors.)
(5)Megan K.
Do not waste your time or money at any of the three La Pasaditas; Taqueria Traspasada blows them away hands down. The staff is fantastic, the food amazing (what in the hell do they do to their chicken to make it SO unbelievably good?!), and it's cheap! I seriously used to eat here almost daily when I lived a block away, and if I'm back in the neighborhood it's a requisite stop on my trip.
(5)Francesca L.
Great food - great prices and fast service!! The guys working behind the counter are always super friendly and helpful. The place also looks like a little hole in the wall from the outside but it is very clean inside and decorated nicely. If you ever hesitated going in because of the look - don't!! My favorite is the carne asada torta. Their green salsa is also a perfect mix of spice and flavor!
(5)David N.
Grabbed a quick lunch. Pretty good tacos. Tried the beef tongue and vegetarian. The tongue was alright. I've had better on the Southside. The vegetarian was simple, but solid. Lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, and a nice heap of guacamole. Best of all was the green salsa that came with my take-out order. One of the best hot salsas I've ever had. Plenty of jalapenos in this one, so be careful. Tacos here were well worth the stop. Good stuff.
(4)Peter L.
If it weren't for the plastic plates and rehabbed-trailer look, they could have doubled the prices and I would still leave thinking "Hot damn, that was some of the best Mexican food I've had in Chicago." Traspasada is better than Pasadita and De Pasada. It ain't the place for ambiance or comfortable seating, but the food is no joke. If you want to class it up beyond your typical tacos and burritos, the flautas and chiles rellenos are awesome as well. Everything is so fresh -- not just cause everything was made two minutes ago, but the actual ingredients. And there's something about those corn tortillas that is just ridiculous. It's like eating pillows, in a delicious kind of way. The service was top-notch, the place was spotless (though trailer-like, as mentioned earlier), prices are solid, and the food comes out fast. My girlfriend hates all the cheap Mexican places I drag her to, and Traspasada is the first place where she wants to come back. Don't get much better than that.
(5)Erik A.
The food here is good but the customer service is terrible. We ordered two tacos and a bean burrito for delivery. My wife hates onion, so we asked for no onions. The order arrived with onions and when we called to tell the restaurant, they rudely argued that the cook was a professional and he was sure there were no onions. He even had the nerve to ask what the onions looked like and tell me that it was lettuce and not onions. After I explained that I tasted and there were onions, he agreed to bring the order once again but repeated several times that we would need to give back the old food, like we were trying to scam them. Ridiculous.
(2)John Y.
I am furious with this place. I walk in at 11:45pm..... wanting a chicken burrito. There is someone else waiting for their food inside. I walk in and behind me two (2) Big Black gang banger type guys walk in. He tells me they are closed as he does the Black guys... I walk out but wait in my vehicle. He ends up serving everyone except me. Nice!
(1)Ramona R.
Hands down the BEST taco-shop style Mexican food I've had outside of Los Angeles and San Diego. Amazing beans - taste like beans cooked up by your abuela. Flavorful carne asada that's not greasy. Delicious guacamole. Excellent and complex, flavorful salsas. The Mexican rice is spot on- maybe not as good as homemade but many taquerias/restaurants can't execute Mexican rice right, this place does.The staff is lovely and friendly. I could eat here every day. I don't understand the appeal of La Pasadita with this place just a few doors down.
(5)First L.
Before you write off my review, please let me explain...we were hungry for burritos and ended up at Happy Village on Wolcott. Huh? I know, I get it, but that's where we went. We ordered a couple of Fat Tires for $3.50 and borrowed the well-loved and much-used book of takeout menus and flipped to the tab for Mexican. Still perplexed? Hang with me. It was nearly 75 degrees and we wanted to sit outside in the sun on the unnaturally warm October day. Ergo Happy Village. SOOOOO, we ordered delivery from Traspasada. One seasoned steak burrito and some al pastor tacos. To round it out, we ordered chips and guacamole. 45 minutes and $32 later, we dug in. The guacamole was good and the chips were actually warm, but it was downhill from there. The steak was extremely seasoned, but not of anything palatable. Rather it tasted like natural gas smells. The rice was dry and pretty flavorless, as were the beans. Finally, the al pastor was ok, but skimpy on the meat and heavy on the sour cream. Am I an idiot for ordering delivery burritos? Absolutely. But the beer was cold and the sun warm. My real error was not promptly calling back after placing the order and just going straight to the source. So I am throwing in two stars for my personal stupidity. Maybe this place is great AFTER several beers, but it was just plain bad this afternoon.
(2)Erika S.
I used to love this place but their prices just hiked up! La pasadita was the original go to place for steak tacos but they too became too expensive for fast Mexican food, I guess now you can go to either since they are about the same price/quality and they are both around the same neighborhood.
(2)Andre W.
Strolled in around 2:30AM on Saturday night after dancing my ass off at Sonotheque and as I said in that review, I was in hot pursuit of a burrito. Ordered a chicken burrito and it was prepared in less than a minute. NICE!!!! It came with a massive amount of onions, YES!!!! It only set me back $5, which is great. This is a nice, little place with cool guys working the grill. I just hated when I left out, I smelled like I had been working there for 4 hours. Glad this place is in walking distance of home, because I often crave burritos @ night!
(5)Anuj S.
The burrito I got was just OK. Overall, I would say the flavor was lacking. Also both the tortilla and the rice were very dry... Very disappointing after reading the yelp reviews. I gave it an extra star because both hot sauces were good. I finished them up with some Doritos at home.
(3)Rebeka M.
I kind of forgot the exact name of what I ordered, but they were two of the most delicious soft tacos I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The beef was so tender and juicy. Like it had been slow simmered in a crock pot for a very long time. Then it was topped with cilantro... mui delicioso. The tortillas were very light and fresh also. Overall the meal was not greasy and very fresh. AND THE SALSA!!!! Oh lord, this topic deserves a separate paragraph. I would have eaten this out of anywhere they put it... anywhere. Both the salsa verde and red salsa were "too spicy" for my counterparts, but they were just to my liking (I would have liked more spice, but I was more than satisfied). I was seriously considering pilfering the bottles of salsa, but the problems with that would have been: A. it would not have been very nice B. we didn't have a refrigerator in our hotel room The gentleman at the register was very nice, and he served us this really good beef soup as we waited. The meal was very inexpensive. It was something like $5.35 for my two tacos, soup, and a drink. Very clean and well lit. We went around midnight on a Monday and at first we were the only ones there, but then it got busy towards the end of our meal. There is not a lot of seating, maybe like 20 or so chairs? It was about a 10 minute walk west from the Chicago blue line stop. Overall this was an excellent place to eat and I will be definitely coming back.
(5)Patrick B.
Carne Asada Tacos were good. So was the salsa for the chips. The other salsa provided had good kick. Fast service.
(4)Sarah E.
I am always on the hunt for good tacos and I finally found a place that makes me happy. This places is ALL about the food - get in, get out. Super fast service, LOADED tacos - all the meat they put on here is double the amount of anywhere else I've been to. MMMMMMM can't wait to go back.
(4)Tom S.
You guys know who "The Tamale Guy" is? Guess what, I saw him getting his dinner a Taqueria Traspasada. Let's stop and think about this for a small moment: if The Tamale Guy gets HIS food from this Mexican joint, you know this place must be muy delicioso! I'm a big believer that tacos should be served on soft, corn tortillas with ONLY the meat, onions, cilantro and whatever salsa you choose and that's how this place does it, the REAL way! They'll certainly "Taco Bell" it up for you if you want lettuce and sour cream but man, this place is authentically good. Last night, I stopped in and ordered the Tampaquena, it's a big slab of carne asada (that's steak to you gringos), perfectly seasoned and cooked, rice, beans, guacamole, some lettuce on the side for color, a grilled jalapeno pepper and a bunch of warm corn tortillas. Oh wait, on top of all of this sits a little cute cheese enchilada. BAM! How about that for a meal? I ate it all. Don't tell my wife this but last week when she was out of town, I had the Tampaquena delivered two nights in a row. Thank goodness we didn't share a bed together until a few nights later cuz the Tampaquena will do funny things to you. All worth it. Okay, summary: If you live in the 'hood, this should be your go-to for Mexican delivery. If you don't, and you want authentic Mexican, it's worth the drive over. Don't expect a waitress or to pay with a credit card cuz they don't roll that way. What they do roll is the best damn Mexican food north of Madison Ave.
(5)Hoang L.
I remember my brother taking me here years ago and it was awesome. Went back here late last night after a night of partying. Service. I asked the cashier "what's good here?" like 3 times and never got a response. At first, I thought he was just ignoring me because I was intoxicated, but I realized he was just busy staring at my girlfriend and female cousin. Not cool. Not cool at all. Steak burrito = I love salty food but it was WAY to salty. Trust me, that's saying a lot. Steak fajitas = It was okay, but they are cheap with the rice and refried beans. I mean, come on, if you're going to charge $10, give me more. It was like 3 table spoons each. Chorizo torta = It was meh... I took a bite but my cousin said the bread got a little rubbery. Green salsa = I love spicy foods and I'm going to have to say it's too spicy to taste good. They didn't include any red salsa. For a hole-in-the-wall joint, I'd expect better food. You lose 2 stars for the food and 2 stars for ignoring me.
(1)Nathan C.
had the al pastor tacos. excellent. two of them and a coke ran $6 and some change. i'll be back again and again.
(4)Jason E.
Best mexican food in Chicago hands down! I frequent this place 2-3 times a week.
(5)Carolyn E.
The BEST burrito place in the neighborhood, I've tried them all and this is definitely the best. I tend to stick with the vegetarian burrito and the boyfriend tends to get the El Pastor. This place is cash only, but it's worth going across the street to one of those random banks and paying an ATM fee.
(5)Mike K.
These hole in the wall taco stands generally scare me because I tend to have a sensitive stomach and God only knows what goes on in the kitchen in the back. But I had a hankering for a taco and got inspired to try this joint based on a few recommendations in a recent taco thread. Traspasada has a huge menu with various items containing various types of meat, including some I don't want to think about. I went the safe route: two ground beef tacos, one chicken taco and one choritzo taco. The tacos at Traspasada are all pretty good sized. I preferred the ground beef version over both the chicken and choritzo versions. Three tacos filled me up nicely, with the fourth one making a nice late night snack. Four stars. I'll be back.
(4)Amanda B.
A great test to any taqueria is the quality of their rellanos. OMG, the chile was so tasty and not too much cheese! Coming back to try everything else!
(5)Mark M.
I Love this place. The food is cheap and yet good (I'm all about pork). It's really friendly and quick. It's not haute cuisine but it's the way fast food should be done. Decent ingredients done cheap and cheerful by people who seem to care a bit about what they're doing.
(5)Brian E.
I recently spent 2 months living/working in Bordertown, Mexico. The irrational paranoia of getting shot or possibly decapitated was always alleviated with a trip to El Griego, a delicious hole-in-the-wall tacos al pastor joint. It may have only been a mile from the Rio Grande, but it felt like mucho, mucho más. Though I may never have an opportunity to eat those tacos again, they'll never leave my memory. So, naturally, back in Chicago my only choice is to find some sort of a replacement. I know my standards are set high, and I know I will never find anything comparable, but that damned tacos al pastor beast inside of me has to be tamed. I mistakenly ordered 6 tacos (I can put away 10 of those babies south of the border) and could only manage to put back 5. 6 was possible, but I didn't want to throw up on my bike ride home. The tacos were good: the meat was fresh, the cilantro and onion were present, and the salsa was fantastic. If only they had pastor on a spit... I'll definitely be back. They probably taste all the better when capping off a night of drinking.
(4)Kim J.
I'm very bad at stalking the tamale guy, so when I need a late-night Mexican fix, Traspasada is my go-to joint. The food is always freshly made, and it's about the least greasy Mexican I've ever had. They give you your choice of salsas to kick it up a notch. There are some interesting authentic dishes on the menu - the last time we were in, they gave us a little sample of the goat soup, which was just awesome. Tip: If you want a quick, cheap dinner, they also deliver until 10pm.
(5)jordyn e.
This place has some of the best pollo tacos, al pastor, and veggie tacos (avocado galore) in the city!! Extremely fast service, and everything has been perfect every time I've gone there. After finally finding this place, I would go three to four times a week before work or during work. If you're in the mood for truly fantastic, authentic Mexican food, you will not be disappointed. The only thing I'm not a huge fan of is the 'Tortas', but that's more of a personal preference. Also, as many have stated, it is Cash Only.
(5)Doe L.
I love a good hole in the wall... My taco were surprisingly stuffed with steak. Thanks to other reviews, my bf enjoyed the Al Pastor taco. And my first attempt with a Tripe Taco left me wanting seconds. My only thing is that there were no limes (we took to go)... I'm not sure if you're suppose to request those since I'm not really that familiar with more authentic Mexican places. But I was sad that it didn't come with any to drizzle over my onion/cilantro tacos... I wouldn't really recommend the sope to go. It was soggy & cold (10 minutes later) and just didn't taste that good like that. The prices weren't bad at all so I might drop by again.
(4)Angelo P.
Me and my dad's favorite place to get tacos in the city north of Madison! For all the folks who live in Wicker Park, this isn't the place to get your Americanized idea of Mexican food, its a place to get real authentic Mexican tacos...my old man pointed out that they come wrapped in wax paper just like in Mexico city...all the little things count :P Come enjoy a taco with your favorite meat and you will not be disappointed...definitely much better than the nearby and bland Lazo's tacos and whatever the one nextdoor to it is. Want real mexican tacos without having to go south of Madison? go here!
(5)Amanda Z.
I believe, my darlings, this may be my Holy Grail taco stop. Seriously. I don't say that lightly. A teensy little store front with barely a stool on which to perch while you await your mexican delights, this place smells amazing when you walk in the door. Give your order, pay (CASH ONLY) and in a short moment's time, your taste buds will be treated to some of the best tacos this side of the border. Well, the best tacos that this chica has tasted... The al pastor tacos made my mouth cry with delight. (They do ask whether you'd like your tacos with cilantro and onions...a nice touch for any cilantro or onion haters out there.) The nachos, while not a ginormous portion, were perfectly layered with guacamole, jalapenos, and tender steak, and of course, queso. Seriously, kids, these are some serious tacos. And at around $2 a pop, not bad at all...Our grand total for four tacos, a gordita and nachos con carne was $20. A steal for the fiesta that is certain to occur in your mouth. So, next time I'm all up in some taco's business, you'll know where I got it.
(5)Mandi G.
Tacos cesina + chorizo quesadilla= Orgasm in mouth
(5)Delia C.
Uh-oh. El Taco Veloz might have some competition for my taco affections. Their pastor is just as good (if not just a teensy bit more flavorful) and their chorizo is damn good. Their burritos? When you get them without all the stuff in them, they're like EXTRA BIG tacos and that's really awesome for me. But their menu is a little bit more.. autentico, and I like that. (Yeah, I just threw in some high school spanish!) They deliver (which is always good) and I can't wait to try the birria (goat stew.)
(4)Josh H.
No reason to give it less than 5 stars, it is some good eatin'. Only been there once, but I'll definitely be back. I had tacos, at 2 bucks each, they were loaded with meat and loaded with flavor. I had the pork (best), steak (next best), and chicken (a little dry and might've been disappointed if that was the only kind I had, but the others were awesome). Refried beans were okay but not great. I'm so glad they're open late, and they deliver too.
(5)fred l.
Best tacos and menudo in Chicago! The goat stew is amazing too. Everything I have ever had there was very good. I rarely have had even one drink when I go there and still love it. Am surprised to see so many reviews by sefl described drunk women but... maybe its another reason to go there! :) Oh and... don't even try to compare this treasure to that ersatz taco stand over near D&D.
(5)Junior D.
Ok I have come to the conclusion that pretty much everything on the menu is good... The torta bread is so soft and they always split it in half for you which is awesome Hands down best Cesina tacos in Chicago as well! I love this place so much I visit it once a week.. Cheap good tasting Mexican fast food... and I mean really fast... Try there sugar made Coke in a bottle or some of there delicious horchata.. 5 stars for never letting me down..
(5)DJ S.
Our absolute favorite place for tacos! We love their rice and beans too. Awesome salsa and chips. The salsa is homemade Overall five stars plus! Cash only!!!
(5)Krystyna B.
Busted into the Taqueria around 2:30am with two hiccupping, giggly girls after a GNO at Five Star. The restaurant was empty except for one man practicing his Spanish with a line cook. Managed to feed the three of us - drinks included - for under $20. Tacos al pastor and chicken burritos were...AWESOME. Fresh, delicious, and kicky once you added in your choice of salsa. In and out in under half an hour with my girlfriends' rumbling tummies filled with lovely Mexican fare.
(5)F. C. K.
They have guacamole now, but it's always terrible. Tastiness of burritos seems to have come down a notch as well. But still good. Better than Carbon or Mr. Taco.
(4)Scott W.
Let me start off by saying.. I am not a huge fan of corn tortillas, or cilantro. But I went in Traspasada and in my opinion you can't properly review something if you switch up what they do as a food spot (I mean unless your allergic). That being said.. I was going to have corn tortillas, onions and cilantro on every taco I got. I ordered the chorizo, barbacoa, carne asada, and steak/onions. The guy at the register was a cool, nice dude. Liked that. I even got some entertainment from a guy waiting at the bus stop telling me his life story while I smoked a cigarette and bummed him one. He told me about how he got hit in the eye with a metal pipe, and some other crazy shit haha. Guy brought out my tacos, and I went home. Not gonna lie, I was indulging in some adult beverages.. shots of vodka.. before I went in this place and I was pretty drunk by the time I got home. Got the tacos and started owning them. All the tacos had the perfect amount of onions, and more importantly the PERFECT amount of cilantro. Cilantro is a herb that can easily destroy a dish if put on with a heavy hand. The green salsa was prepared well too. This place had some of the most tender barbacoa I have ever had in a taco. Both the steak tacos were really good. But my favorite.. CHORIZO. When I had been living at home I was forbidden to cook anything with chorizo cause my mom would say it smelled up the whole house and half our neighborhood could smell it. This chorizo taco made me so happy it's not even funny. I know that area has a lot of mexican restaurants, and I will probably try them all.. But I know I will be back to Taqueria Traspasada.. It's the kind of place you go to in a drunken late night haze and you don't care about anything but cheap, good food.
(3)Tom K.
Classic steak tacos with cilantro and onions on corn tortillas are excellent. Good and fast service. A favorite.
(4)Angie M.
The ground beef burrito I ate here last night at about 3am saved my life. Thank you, Traspasada.
(5)J J.
Genuinely Nice Service! Delicious Horchata. Awesome Salsa and chips. Tacos of excellence. I think the steak burrito is my favorite though. My go-to taco joint. Free cup of soup when you eat in!
(5)Quinn K.
One of my favorites! I always go here with my boo after a late night of working in the kitchen. The tortas are great. The sauce that comes with them is equally delicious. He loves the tacos and they always look really fresh and smell good. Now that it's cold out they have started to give out free soup with every order. I don't know what kind of soup it is but it has tiny noodles and tastes a bit spicy. I like it.
(5)Katie S.
I feel like I'm really missing something after reading these other reviews. Is it because I'm always sober when I come here? I think that's my mistake, I'll have to test my hypothesis Friday night and see if I can edit this. I usually get the taco dinner. The chorizo tacos are pretty fantastic, but the steak and ground beef are nothing special. The rice and beans are standard, but they don't give you much. I'm usually still hungry after this meal. The green salsa is hot and tasty. The pico de gallo salsa is no good, really watery and the tomatoes never seem to be ripe. I need more excitement in my life! I'll go down the street to Tecalitlan for that. PS- CASH ONLY
(3)Wayne B.
Food was quite good, but the service and the cleanliness is marginal for this type of establishment...
(3)Janet W.
This is another place that we've checked out recently due to yelp reviews. Per a yelper's recommendation, we tried "cesina" which they said is marinated steak, in burritos. The meat is very tender which is nice, with good flavor. We still have to go back and try more. (For those that speak zero spanish, cesina is pronounced se-SEE-na.) The guac has raw onions which seems typical, but I can't eat a lot of onions. Guac at Taco Velos (see my review) I believe is no or very low onions, so if I were in the mood for guac I'd get an enormous 'large' one from there. Guac at Traspasada is once size, but my husband likes it. It is one long, small place with bar stools, very clean and bright, and very heavily air conditioned. We get takeout, and I wear a jacket for while I wait.
(4)Dommy G.
Cheap, delicious, fast, and open late. Need I say more? The only bad thing I can say about this place is that it's cash only. That said, I LOVE IT. They even have birria (goat) tacos on the weekends which are DELICIOUS. My go to items: chicken tacos chicken tostados any gordita any burrito With the knowledge of Traspasada there is no excuse to even consider the travesty that is La Pasadita.
(5)Christine W.
I like their tacos even when I'm sober. I like them even better when I'm hammered. I always get the veggie burrito or the veggie taco- they got that down! I'm not a pork eater so I don't get their speciatly- the pastore. I can't decide if the steak taco is better than Pasadita- i would have to say it is close but I'm not ready to make that call yet. My downfall is the green sauce. I can't get enough and its always too much.....but totally worth drinking a gallon of water after!!! This is my taqueria.
(4)Carri A.
I have lived across the street from this taqueria for a full year and have never tried the food - until recently. And I have seriously been missing out. Veggie tacos are stellar. Veggie burritos are dynamite (they put large slices of avocado in there in addition to all of the other typical, delicious ingredients). Their guacamole is fabulous and I also really like the decor of the space. It's cute, plus the guys working are always super friendly. Oh, and the food is crazy cheap - especially for being so delicious. Come prepared though, it's cash only! And open late for your post-drinking needs.
(5)Sarah F.
Great fun! I was there after my head was fully enclosed in whiskey disaster but I can still remember the menu choice that I made because it was unique and really flavorful: Chile Relleno Burrito I just wanna ask: has anyone ever had that before? I spent 8 years in California and never did see that option on ANY taqueria menu EVER. Goodness gracious it was so delicious. I was drunk and I still remember how it tasted, that's how good it was. Plus, it was like, negative twenty six degrees outside and that Chile Relleno made me feel like I'd been brought down to some location under the equator. Not that the land beneath the equator is always warm... Spend some time in the mountains of Argentina and it's practically like Colorado... but I digress.... This place is actually called Taqueria Traspasada 2.
(4)Lois A.
I avoided this place for a long time and that was stupid of me. I'd let the Bermuda Triangle of La Pasadita down the street cloud my judgement after a really bad taco experience. Taqueria Traspasada, one million apologies...you rule!
(4)Patty S.
We had a craving for burritos and ventured onto Taqueria Taspasada. After this experience I'm sorry that it took me so long to discover it! I ordered the carne asada and my bf had the chicken. They ask if you would like cilantro and onions in the burrito and you want to say "YES!" I typically don't care for cilantro, but the way it compliments the meat I didn't want to stop eating. The green sauce it comes with was extremely spicy! It was tasty, just very spicy. The burritos are also the size of your head - well worth the price. I can honestly say that I'm glad this place is only 10 mins away and I can go there as often as I like! :)
(4)Kali J.
Best Mexican In My Neighborhood. I am SO sick of everyone raving about "La Pasadita". Yes there's 3 of them. And they ALL suck. It's not that you "can't find the good one". They're all just lame compared to Traspasada. I mean, don't eat here unless you're clinically depressed anyway, but they take out and deliver like nobody's business. Just today my car, which I've just invested $400 in, decided to throw up it's middle finger at me and make me walk to work. Well, Screw You Honda, Traspasada is on my Way To Work! And eating 700 calories in one chorizo-filled burrito will damn-schecky make it all better! No, there are no healthy options here. One entire flank of my ass is composed of their enchiladas. AND I'D DO IT AGAIN. AND I WILL! AND MORE CAPITAL LETTERS! Summation: fuck Pasadita, eat Traspasada.
(4)Dmitri G.
Food is pretty good. It's cash only however, but the owner let me have my burrito and I promised him I would bring the money the next day. Very nice of them. The guac is way too salty.
(4)Joshua W.
A tiny neighborhood type place--cash only, open late, and the veggie tacos are great. Rene that works here is super nice, too.
(4)Nik B.
This place was impressive! And very fast. It's a small, quiant in-and-out sort of joint with suprisingly delicious food! A couple minutes after ordereding, I was quickly served my 2 chicken tacos and 1 chile rilleno, and they threw in some tomato soup, which was mostly water, but had flavorful noodles in it. The tacos were great, there was a mix of sauted and fresh onions with cilantro, the chicken was moist and it was all garnished with lime. Also, the corn tortillas tasted really moist, almost as if they had been steamed. Delicious. This place is great, go here for a tasty break in your day.
(4)Christiana F.
YES! This is my local taco joint and they are the best. Great flavor and prices. I find myself comparing them to other places I try and they still beat them out....including some of those trending taco places....not going to mention names. But yeah, screw the fancy interiors and selection of whiskeys. I want tacos, in a bag, with a Jarrito, so I can take it home and chow down in peace.
(5)tom k.
Spicy goodness all around ... flavorfully awesome al pastor, carne asada, and chorizo. Everything was hot off the grill, with warm soft corn tortillas, and good . Quick service, cheap, open late ... what more could my non-sober a$$ ask for. Muchas gracias senor!
(4)Kara D.
Good food, great price, nice employees.
(4)Catlleya s.
i called 3 times to place an order but 3 different guys who picked up the phone was rude.they forgot an item 1 i ordered when i picked it up and to top it all the food is DOWN RIGHT AWFUL! i will never recommend anyone to come and try to eat there.
(1)Chris J.
This is the real stuff. I've been to a number of "authentic" Mexican taco places in the States, and this is probably the best one yet. My girlfriend had never had real tacos al pastor before, and so I'm glad this was her first experience. They were almost perfect; just needed the cooked pineapple to complete the authentic effect. She said again and again how delicious the meat was. The chorizo was fabulous, and the barbacoa was just so-so. I appreciated the kind and prompt service and the little cup of soup (red pozole?) served before the tacos. Real Mexican Coca-Cola (sugar, not corn syrup) helped complete the effect. I'll definitely go back next time I'm nearby.
(4)Dan M.
Tras has become my default taco supplier. I go there at least once every 5-10 days now. They have rehabbed the sit-down area of the restaurant and it's now much better (though still lunch-counter style). There is the obligatory flat-screen playing telemundo at a few decibels too much but the food is still great and the guys that work there are very friendly. In all honesty, they have the fastest take out of any restaurant I order from in the entire city. They don't have drive-through but it might as well be. You can pull up to the front door, call in your order and by the time you get out of your car and walk the 6 feet to the door your order is about 2-3 minutes from being in your hands.
(4)Sharon H.
LOVED this place! the food is awesome! (and i lived in mexico the entire summer this past year, so i think i get some clout with that). AND the service people are super fun... i always try to practice my spanish when i can, and the staff was really sweet and funny about it. :) i live a bit out, but it was totally worth the bus ride.
(5)Timothy O.
Lunch on the go? Check. Late night feasting? Check. Honest and friendly people? Check. Best burritos? Check. Credit Cards Accepted? Nope!
(4)Emil O.
Ate here for lunch the other day and had my standard two chorizo two carne asada tacos that I get whenever I eat mexican... and this was not my favorite.. the chorizo was fine but the steak was not quality meat!! a lot of fat and not even cooked enough.. Not going here again. I have my favorite spots that I'll stick to.
(2)Kevin W.
The search is over. You know a place is good when you come back 3 times in one week. This place blows Carbon and Pasadita out of the water imo. Try the goat soup if u come on the weekend - surprising how much meat was in there, great broth, slightly gamey bc it's goat so make sure u like that - also come w tortillas so u can make lil goat tacos with the meat too. Burritos 'con todo' (with everything) r near perfect - just the right proportions of meat, rice, and veggies - carne asada was my fav in the burrito - it makes u realize how much u get gipped at Chipotle on the meat. Tacos r also fabulous - I loved the chorizo taco, the beef tongue was tender but could've used some seasoning I suppose. The chicken was bland imo. The al pastor was very good but a little salty the last time I had it in the burrito, perhaps a one-off. They even have stuff like beef brain here too for the truly adventurous (it had a sweetbreads like flavoring and texture to it but wasn't better tasting than normal meat imo. The cesina (marinated steak) was not as good as the usual carne asada. Tiny tiny place, would seat maybe 8 ppl. Love the friendly service here. Good job guys.
(5)Jeff K.
Solid vegetarian tacos! They come with avocado and sour cream, along with all the other standard veggie ingredients. If you work nearby like I do, you should stop by for lunch; they're quick and the tacos are delicious.
(4)Steve K.
Really good tacos. I've only tried the Asada and Pastor. I'm really starting to be a huge fan of pastor tacos. Especially when they are this good. Tried this place twice and both times were very good. Generous portions and the food seems to be fresh. Could be my new go to place.
(4)Ryan K.
Best taco joint I've found in the city thus far.... Tips: - Cash only...so stupid. - Somewhere around my 20th visit, they stopped giving me tap water for free and made me buy bottled. I haven't been back since. - The location on Belmont and California will give you chips and salsa. It has more seating. And a more extensive menu.
(5)Jon F.
This is THE place for Mexican food delivery. I live in the west loop / river north and have tried a bunch of places. I am also from California and appreciate good, simple, Mexican food. The Al Pastor tacos are to die for. Much better than many more expensive places and THEY DELIVER. Ask for both the green AND red salsa. Stop reading this and order!
(5)Demetrio P.
I've tried Traspasada a couple weeks ago...and it was just okay. I'm always looking for good Carne Asada or al Pastor tacos, and overall I was unimpressed with the tacos here. Just okay... In summary, okay food, okay service, okay prices.
(3)Ben D.
I thought I would edit my review since I have become what I would like to think is Traspasada's best customer. I eat at this place ALL the time. I ate dinner or lunch here for an entire week more than a few times. I have become friends with one of the guys there and they have grown accustomed to my order and I no longer even really need to tell them what I want unless it is something different than what I usually get. Everyone that works here is incredibly friendly and if you go in enough, you'll be sure to make some friends. Okay, lets get to the food. Al pastor is incredible, probably my favorite tacos. Its also great in burritos. My rule of thumb is if you can put pastor in it, its going to be amazing. The carne asada, lomo, and vegetarian tacos are all outstanding. The lomo is my current favorite. Fajitas are awesome, I got these for carryout one night and I could smell them the whole walk home. Pork ribs with green sauce are tender and fall right off the bone. Quesadillas are made with the small corn tortillas, not the big flour ones, which is great for me because I have Celiac disease and cannot eat the flour ones. Flautas are generally pretty good depending on who is doing the cooking. Sometimes they are just a bit to crispy for me. Drinks, who needs anything more than a Sidral or a Mexi Coke. These are the two best sodas ever. I love Sidral. Bottom line -- go here, you won't be disappointed. Ever.
(5)M G.
Very good Mexican food that actually delivers to River North! FYI, River North has no good authentic Mexican Restaurants which is odd considering it is Restaurant Central. They have 2 different hot sauces, red and green. They give the green one standard with your order. The red one is awesome and spicy and I definitely prefer that one. However, everytime I order it with my delivery order I never get it!?! That's too bad, because the red sauce makes the food 100 times more enjoyable; but I'm not sure why they just won't put it in the bag with the food being delivered to my apartment when I specifically ask for it!! I hate when you order delivery and don't get what you ask for. There's no asking the waitress or going up to the counter to get what they've forgotten. I'm already paying extra for delivery and tipping you, I should get what I want. Heck, that sauce is so good, I'll even pay extra for it if you want me to. If you pick-up your food or dine in they give it to you, no problemo. I highly suggest doing take out here, dining-in is not really recommended as the atmosphere is less than inviting.
(4)Tariq A.
This is a hidden jem in a neighborhood that is packed with Mexican restaurants. Had this place not been so close to me I would never know what I was missing. You could find a more fanciful Mexican restaurant but you won't find anywhere better or more authentic than this tiny hole in the wall. I come here for the enchilladas. Very friendly, courteous, and welcoming.
(5)Gen T.
Definitely the best Taqueria around. They take it up a notch, its not your run of the mill taco place. I have gone here for lunch-late night and its always the jam. Goat soup is great, pork tacos my favorite. You just wouldn't want to watch me eat pork tacos at 4 in the morning.
(5)Tiff B.
They've got some solid tacos at this place. There's a ton of taquerias in this area but if you're a taco purist like myself, I'd recommend this one. I'm a fan of the chicken and steak tacos here. I'd hesitate to say they're the best in the city, but they're definitely good. I'd say they're on par with La Pasadita down the street. I took off one star because it's cash only and there's not much seating if you want to dine in. Service is always good and fast and they're generous with the taco toppings!
(4)Carly O.
I searched for "al pastor" tacos and this came up numero uno. Now, I don't claim to be any sort of expert on authentic al pastor tacos. However, I was unimpressed with the two I had yesterday. Now mind you, they were cooked fresh (the meat wasn't sitting in a container with foil over it), they were stuffed to the brim and garnished nicely with chopped onion and cilantro. I ordered to go, and they wrapped up 2 limes and gave me a small container of salsa verde...nice touch. But bottomline, maybe I'm just a lowbrow al pastor lover, but Traspasada would not top my list for this particular craving.
(3)Adam M.
Awesome place, a true Authentic Mexican joint in the Chi-Town area. Most restaurants look to be "fancy" and "overpriced", well not Taqueria Traspasada, it's stuck to it's tradition of a small Mexican joint with AWESOME authentic Mexican food. The Carne Asada taco was beyond good! I also really liked the Chili Relleno taco. If you want amazing Mexican food and don't care about going to some crazy fancy place, then check out Taqueria Traspasada
(5)Michael S.
Food is great. Tacos carne asada has a great char to it. Fish tacos are beautifully tasty. The manager (guy at the register) is the reason I keep coming back. Owner should feel grateful to have him at the helm.
(5)Emily B.
I love this place. This is literally one of those hole in the wall - I hope there's room for me to walk in- places. So flavorful super authentic - love the torta ahogada or the enchiladas are #offthechain also! The rice and beans is ok, not the best but definitely a goodie. (Refried beans) I've been here a few times and they have never failed me!! There's usually street parking and most people pick up to go orders so if there's room- I suggest staying a while! Also, good sized portions- I always eat with my eyes :)
(5)Jeff L.
This place used to be just OK. After Rene took the reins they have improved in all ways. The steak tacos are amazing. Make sure to only get cilantro and onion with some limes on the side. The fish tacos are great too and come with a special sauce. Their new manager makes this place tic. I come in on a regular basis and it never disappoints.
(5)Dominique S.
Equivalent to a taco stand that's how small the inside is, but it works for a spot to grab some tacos at a cheap price and get them quickly. Must remember to bring cash, no cc accepted. Service: I called my order in and was told 5 min (super quick). The service over the phone was exceptional as he was patient and very nice. Food: I wish they labled the tacos bc when u order so many you want to be able to easily identify them. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and 7 tacos. Below are my reviews on each: Barbacoa taco - not impressed. Won't order this again. Beef taco - not bad, not great, no complaints. Fish taco - a really great grilled taco with pico de gallo. Was my favorite taco of the bunch. Pork taco - 2nd best taco. I would order it again. Steak taco - not much flavor, but was tender. Slight tweekn and this taco could be good. Glad I tried their food and if I lived closer would probably come back, but I don't live close by so probably will have to stick to pilsen area for my occasional taco fix. I still recommend anyone in the area to try it if looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat.
(3)Den M.
I wanted to try a steak chimichanga so after reading many reviews, decided on Taqueria Traspasada. Mann I was disappointed. I didn't like the flour tortilla cuz it was too thick, almost like bread. It wasn't crispy yet soagy. Steak had flavor but a bit tough for me. I also tried Al Pastor taco, was aight. Beef taco was ok. Customer service was good, better than my food:/
(2)Manuel T.
Un dia pace por la Chicago and Ashland y prove la delicious talpiqueña del restaurant la traspazada k rica
(5)Scott B.
I love late night food and tacos, they have both with many different proteins including goat and chile relleno. The service was quick and friendly.
(4)Daniel C.
So since Taqueria Moran was a huge failure I said I was going to check out a new place for Mexican food so I wanted to check this place out. Been thinking about it for a while. They are a bit pricier then Moran but OMG they are so tasty. Ordered both steak tacos and ground beef tacos. I can't decide which is better. I ordered my mom the chorizo torta and she was happy with it. The service was great and quick. It's definitely my new go to place at this time.
(5)Gio D.
Service was good, despite the small inside area of the restaurant. The guy at the counter gave us free samples of a soup/stew with our meals. He came back and checked on us a couple times. The food was pretty good, too. I wouldn't say it was amazing, though. I had the taco dinner, brother had the enchiladas, wife had tacos as well. No complaints. Horchata was also REALLY good.
(4)Ashley K.
I love them! Always so delicious and the service is killer! I've been going for 8 years!
(5)Quentin G.
Another great taco place with awesome negro salsa the steak tacos are tender not fatty , small place but never over crowded and the guy taking your order is always friendly... customer for life
(5)Champion L.
Tacos were just ok, nothing special, al pastor tasted like chorizo, asada tacos were very bland. prices were high for these small ass tacos, people that say these are the best need to get out more an taste some real shit.
(2)Gregory G.
I've checked out a decent portion of the menus at the various Mexican joints in the area. I go here if I'm feeling like something with steak in it, which is usually in burrito form. This place has what I think are the best Carne Asada burritos in the area. Lots of meat, good balance of other fillings, cheese is nicely melted. I tend to find my staples at certain restaurants and stick with them... so for their steak burritos alone, I give it 5-stars. I go elsewhere for tacos though. Pastor is my go-to for tacos, and there are better to be had, plus the corn tortillas aren't always the best. They do have a lot of meat options, and tend to generously fill them, though. Lots of other things on the menu as well. Open late. Cash only.
(5)LaIndia M.
My third time here and it's always great service. Cash only joint, but they do have an ATM. Small restaurant more for take out but if you're lucky to grab a stool, it's always clean. Today I had the steak Chimichanga which is hard to find these days on the westside. It's a fried burrito. Perfectly fried, soft crisp, topped with cheese. The steak flavorful, not salty but even better with their brown salsa. My husband likes the green salsa because it's spicier. So if you prefer hotter get the green sauce. Oh and the horchata is so good, no fountain fake stuff here.
(5)Nicki P.
Total grab and go taco joint. No frills, but none needed. The food is cheap, tasty and quick. Guacamole is really fresh and perfect smooth consistency. The tostadas didn't travel that we'll but they tasted great so that's all that mattered. The steak was flavorful and moist, pretty much all you really need in a taco spot. I'll be back!
(4)Megan B.
My favorite local taqueria! I live a block away and don't know what I'd do without their steak tacos.
(5)Cindy W.
I was very underwhelmed by this place. I ordered the steak, pork skin, and beef brain (feeling adventurous at the time...). I wasn't impressed by the steak but the pork skin was packed with flavor. If you're into something fatty and hearty and aren't counting calories, I'd go for that option. The beef brain one was kind of gross. I'm all for trying new things but the consistency was rubbery and it was hard to shake the feeling that I was ingesting brain. But at least that's one more thing to check off my bucket list. Also, the owner or guy working the counter seemed a little pushy. I asked him for recommendations and he gave us a curt non-helpful answer... okay... won't make me like this place anymore. What's the rush really? Also, the prices seemed a little high for a hole-in-the-wall tacqueria dive place. I mean, I'd rather pay the $3 for a taco at the Big Star than pay $2.50 for a mediocre taco in my opinion.
(2)Aaron Jae M.
Took some out-of-towners (Canadians) to this spot because they wanted some good Mexican food. They were very pleased and so was I. The burritos are a good size and not too expensive. They of course had a vegetarian option for my friend which is pretty easy to get with mexican food.
(4)Pari P.
I just had sesos tacos - as in beef brain. That's hardcore $%#&. Talk about Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, I was feeling adventurous and bold with a slight fear of mad cow disease. Thankfully, I'm okay and still able to write this review for Taqueria Traspasada. The tacos are $2.25 each and look small but they are packed with flavor. I also ordered the al pastor and tried the chicharron. These are definitely a must try since both were delicious. The owner was kind enough to give us some birria (goat stew) and followed up throughout our meal. Taqueria Traspasada also does steak burritos well but this is the place to try something different. Bizarre Food fans should definitely put this place on their list to try.
(4)Ian B.
I'm astounded by the other reviews I've read of this place. Best pastor you've ever had? Amazing carne asada? Incredible hole in the wall taco joint? I pity you, friends! It might be great drunk food and I admit I was dead sober, but I ordered al pastor, carne asada, and suadero tacos and each was as bland as the last. The al pastor had a slight hint of what could have been flavor, but that was the extent of it. I could write a book on my love for al pastor tacos, but I'd leave this place unmentioned. With the ridiculous amount of taco places in the area, I'll cross this one off the list and peep the next block.
(2)Justin B.
Tried the al pastor, chorizo, ground beef, and flank steak. I would do the flank and the al pastor again, but the chorizo and the beef were a disappointment. Love the space, perfect for what I need for an on-the-run taco joint. But the price-to-value ratio was a little off to me, with $2.25 tacos that weren't that hearty. Generally, I expect three tacos to fill me up at most Chicago taco joints, and at Traspasada, I would have needed five (at least) to get out of here full. You have been warned. I will come back because this place is a five-minute walk from the house...but I'll focus on a couple of other flavors the next go-round.
(3)Bill G.
Place kicks ass. Great tacos, awesome salsa. And they have birria on the weekends. Highly recommended.
(4)Grace L.
Definitely the best Mexican food in Chicago
(5)Dalia M.
I drove past here and made a second attempt to get these tacos. They were open for lunch! Haaaaaaleluyah!!! Grabbed the al pastor and carne asada. Served incredibly fast, I sat alone and gobbled it up. The main guy was nice and quick. They have bottled drinks, bar style seating and affordable prices. No frills, good tacos.
(4)Sarah G.
Late night mexican food that is as tasty as this???? Really it was a dream come true and a dream I hope I get to have again very soon! Really though, if I am ever back in this area, even if I am not hungry, I will be coming here to get at least one al pastor taco or quesadilla or something. That al pastor was so so good! And that quesadilla was grilled to perfection with just the right amount of cheese and fillings, I didn't want to share any of it with Matt J. at all, but I knew it was the nice thing to do. I pretty much wanted to order one of everything on the menu there and you could tell that this place has it set of regulars too, since people would walk in and all of the staff would say hi to them, give them food hook ups, it was like being at cheers but instead being at a late mexican taco spot that felt as happy and homey as cheers. It is small inside, but hey, you don't need much space to enjoy food like this. Everything was so flavorful and it isn't as cheap as some places were in CA when I used to live there, but it was worth every dollar hands down and I will definitely be back. Maybe tomorrow. Taqueria Traspasada, will you be my friend forever?
(4)Kelley C.
I love this place, but they can never give you a total until they show up. Often, the order is not accompanied by a receipt, and the totals don't seem right. Tonight, our delivery guy showed up and told my husband he owed $40. To make a long story short, he just brought our money back after I threatened to call the cops. He actually tried to keep the tip, too. Moron. This kind of thing has happened too often with them. Bye bye, Traspasada.
(1)Naomi L.
Seriously for the past week I have been trying to eat at least two tacos a day. IDK what's wrong with me but I have been seriously looking to eat at a new Taco joint every day. No I'm not pregnant if that's what you guys are thinking I received a call from one of my friends that I haven't heard from in a while. We met up here because I told her "I'm feeling tacos and margaritas" so she suggested this place. We sat on the patio because this weather has been phenomenal (cross my fingers that it stays like this ). Their tacos were not the greatest; tasted just plain nothing special. If their Tacos were good this place would easily get a 5 star from me. I ordered a Mango and a Peach margarita and let me express how tasty those were! I mean I wanted to try every flavor but I had to drive my ass home. This is definitely a place to come for a nice flavorful and refreshing Margarita! My drink didn't lack a thing. It was made exactly the way I love it. Our check was really cheap as well so I will definitely return to try more of their drinks. Our server was really nice and attentive. She didn't bother us every 5 seconds but came around enough for us not to be smothered by her.
(4)R H.
By far this is one of my favorite authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago. Every time I come here I make sure I have a dinner here
(4)Danny W.
Cash only can sometimes ruin an otherwise amazing taqueria experience, but I'll be damned if I'm going to dock Traspasada for a two dollar transaction fee. This past midnight Mexican spot is legit one of the best in the city. It's small and slender, which is the exact opposite of what you'll be if you add them to your regular rotation. The menu is massive with many meats and mariscos to choose from to put between corn or flour tortillas. Amazing ones I might add. The talipia tacos are grilled and delicious and the steak deserves the name carne asada cause it's almost as good what you'll find in Southern or Baja California. Overall it's about as good as I've found in the Midwest after experiencing some of the best by the border.
(5)Tavi J.
This is a little hole in the wall place to grab some reasonably price Mexican food to go. I came here for a late night bite after going to Beauty Bar down the street. It was pretty crowded, but the line moves fast. I ordered the Carne Asada taco with cilantro and onion. Steak was cook good and flavorful, taco size was decent, and price point was okay. Definitely a late night bite stop when I'm in the area.
(4)Neil C.
Fantastic food, pretty friendly employees but they are more about getting down to business, fast service. Prices are also pretty fair, not the cheapest, but not too pricey. Under $3 for a taco. Cash only. Very small seating area. Their Al Pastor tacos are my favourite in the city.
(5)Cheryl I.
I literally live 2 minutes away from this place, and I like it! It usually has a few people in there eating in or ordering out. Its not anything insanely special but it's good for genuine Mexican home cooking. the staff is pretty friendly, and straight and to the point when ordering. As for food, I know they have a pretty wide variety on the menu but I've only ordered the tacos (al pastor, flank steak, and ground beef), my favorite by far is the al pastor! Remember this place is CASH ONLY!! if you forget there's a Bank of America across the street. all in all the prices are very reasonable and you can get a lot of food for a little cash.
(3)Sam T.
Three words: chicken taco salad Literally the best thing to eat, especially after a night of drinking. Their salsa and chips are yummy too
(4)Consuelo P.
Great tacos. A bit pricy for a cash only joint the place is really small so don't expect to sit and eat. A good place to stop by and pick up. Not always open
(4)Alexander Z.
...PASTOR... OK now that we've got that out of the way, having lived literally dozens of feet away for 3 years, this is the single most thing I miss about my name old hood. I have yet to try any other taqueria in Chicago who's Pastor stacks up! Sober or drunk, the food is a top notch hole in the wall. With my homeboy always (usually) behind the counter, the service is always friendly, and this became the go to quick dinner spot for virtually all my friends coming here for their pregame dinner (which often led to the round 2 trip, post game drunken snack). While I almost always got the pastor here, both the chicken and steak are good quality and I'm partial to the Costillas en Res con Papas (sp?) You'll see a picture of it on the menu, love the grilled jalapeño. Short story long, and not just because I have more than a few drunken (and sober) memories, but this is by far my favorite pastor in the city and I will always keep coming back!
(5)Kripa P.
Loved the fajitas I got here! The guacamole was a delicious addition. Best of all, the staff is really nice and attentive. It's a smaller place so going with one to two people max would probably be best. The steak taco was a bit chewy, but my chicken fajitas were the perfect consistency. I would come back here for sure!
(4)John L.
This cash-only place is my go-to for authentic, tasty Mexican food. The first thing I noticed about this place is that the steak had a slightly charred, fresh off the grill taste that elevated my burrito. You can see them cook up everything fresh right behind the register, too. Al pastor is also really good here. Most underrated part of this restaurant--the sauces. Definitely don't forget to put the green and red salsas on before you take a bite (I always regret forgetting this).
(4)Salil G.
I think at least a 1/2 star is based on proximity to my home. Their service is always fast and nice. Food is well prepared and they know how to roll a good quality tight burrito. I'd take away a half star for cash only and another half star for their hot sauces. They're kinda blah.
(4)Eric A.
Holy crap - some of the best street tacos I have ever had. And I used to live in Southern California and currently live in Texas where taco joints are a dime a dozen. This place holds it's own again anywhere. I had a chorizo taco and pastor taco, and my wife the pozole. All amazing...
(5)Manja C.
4 1/2 stars. ¡Ay caramba! This no-frills, trailer-sized Mexican joint was stellar! Finally, Mexican food served the way it's meant to be not the way Americans think it should be. Homemade tortillas, super seasoned meats, chunky salsa (think: fresh pico de gallo), friendly & patient service, tchotchkes throughout, cheap. Took my dad, 13 yr. old brother, and boyfriend here -all claim to be Mexican food connoisseurs-and all left with a new place at the top of their list.
(4)Dave A.
Delicious, juicy and basic al pastor. Pretty quick and good service. Comfy place about the size of two trailers and I was the only one eating in when I was there (weekday at 9pm). Guy at the counter was really nice and appeared to be having a good time but seemed to be asked too often whether that unmarked door with a coat hook leads to a bathroom.
(4)Ganxta H.
Tha DRUNKBUSTA!!!!
(5)Eric M.
They have a nice diverse menu, and service was fast. I had something I'd never had before, which is like a lightly-warmed quesadilla, which was good. Service was friendly, and I love the little hole-in-the-wall feel of the place. I'd definitely go back if I lived in the neighborhood, but I'm not going to go out of my way to make a visit.
(3)Colt E.
Good..but not crazy good. The tacos and enchiladas we had were good, but didn't stand out to me in any sense. Staff was friendly. Don't expect to come here and sit down to eat, unless you're okay with sitting next to the door against a window (not good in the winter). Good for pickup and they do deliver. Get's surprisingly expensive to fill up on the food here though. $20 for two people for some tacos and sides seems like a lot to me.
(3)Jenna l.
Let me set the record straight. They do have guacamole! I've gotten it twice from them! Good little tacos. Coke with real sugar. Some crazy TV show is always playing, with lots of T&A and lots of fast spanish.
(4)Sasha H.
This place is great. They give you soup if you just order a taco and they are very friendly unlike the over saturated La Pasadita mentioned by other reviewers. I stop here on my way to work for a breakfast of huevos con chorizo and I stop here after the bar for some yummy el pastor to keep the hangover away. Thanks guys!
(4)Jen T.
Steak taco heaven! This is the real deal! What else could I ask for: quick, cheap, open late and the most important, Yummy to my tummy. Damn, I'm hungry just writing this review!!!
(5)rob c.
Get the Red Sauce!
(5)Rachelle G.
Hands down one of my favorite places to get tacos in the city. I go out of my way to get them here and everyone I bring tends to agree with me. I never order anything else other than carne asada tacos and I have to agree with another reviewer, the salsa verde here is definitely addicting and yes, I always put too much and drink water like there's no tomorrow after.
(4)tony c.
oh, yes. the salsa is fantastic. you know what else is? i'm sure it's been mentioned a million times but anything al pastor is amaaazing here. pretty sure it changed my life. a few of my favorite things: torta ahogada al pastor, chilaquiles are the bomb here, and so are the burritos. i just wish they threw a little more pork on the torta.. a little chintzy. but it's delicious so i forget all about it soon enough. you wont be disappointed.
(4)Chris C.
Best Tacos I've had in Chicago. Closest thing I've found so far to home (Texas) and very authentic. Tortas were good too.
(5)Brent D.
So far my favorite taqueria in Chicago. Good quick service, great selection, real coke and open late. All good qualities for a taco place. I generally stay with the Carne Asada tacos. The chorizo tacos are a bit dry for my liking. I highly recommend both the verde & roja salsas. They both pack a kick.
(5)Bill J.
Best Mexican food in the area hands down. I have only had the burritos, tacos, and quesadillas but haven't had a reason to venture away from these tasty favorites. The recently remodeled interior is not the ideal place for a romantic dinner but serves as the perfect background while you watch the kind gentlemen quickly twist up some of them thangz. Don't forget to grab yourself a Mexican Coke for the road. A day at La Traspadeez Nutz is a good good day. I'm ova there once a week.
(5)Jims L.
Yes, they DO DELIVER. (From 11-10). Give them a call.
(5)Christine U.
My new favorite place for tacos. Yes, even more so than Pasadita which I have loved for years. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the al pastor, the lomo, and the cesina. My only complaint is that they do not have the molcajete salsa at this location (Traspasadas #1 does have it), but I'm willing to overlook that because of the ample street parking and the quick service, and of course because the food is so good.
(5)Eric B.
Tras is the neighborhood go to for easy grub, late night grub, cheap grub, and all grub in between. I stick to the tacos, really they're the only thing you need. I could slay 6 to 30 of these in a sitting. Al pastor are the best, and a mexi-coke; but in lieu of, the carne asada are great as well. Staff are friendly, if not talkative, but go in enough and you'll certainly make some friends. And, they're open late!
(5)Chad W.
This is pure, simple, excellent Mexican food. The tacos and burritos are great, but I really enjoy the sopes. And the price is right.
(5)Mike V.
Everyone: THIS is THE spot for burritos. PLEASE, do NOT waste your time at one of the eight Pasaditas at Ashland & Division- this place is hands down just better. To be honest, I haven't really tried much else, but I've probably had about 150 carne asada burritos, and they're incredible- every time. They like to do them traditional with just meat, onion, cilantro, but they'll make them however you want. I typically choose to Chipotle-ize my burrito by throwing in a little rice, cheese, sour cream, etc.- they don't seem to be 100% onboard with the concept, but whatev. Remember- cash only.
(5)Chuck T.
Come on everybody, it's ok. Nothing great. I am eating it right now. The guacamole is bad, the avocados used were not ripe. The red and green sauces are excellent though
(2)Bob S.
Let's just review here: * Great food * Open super late * Ready in like two minutes * Inexpensive What's the problem? I don't think anyone we've taken here has ever been disappointed. I have to stop myself from regularly coming by for the chicken tacos. Quality is consistently good. Service is friendly. Most of the time we cannot believe how fast our order is ready.
(5)K J.
I have to say... I LOVE this place. It is my regular lunch stop at least once a week. The only down point is when I go, I have to pick up lunch for the entire office, everyone loves it. Let me state, I KNOW mexican food. I mean, I really know mexican food. I make a point to try every little taco joint that I pass by and after living in the Berwyn/Cicero area, I've hit ALOT of them :) The good things about this restaurant in no particular order: the sauce... both the green and the red and hot as hell and addictive. 2) they dont charge you an arm and leg when you add avocado, cheese and sour cream to your taco. 3) the chicken is WHITE meat in tiny little pieces of heaven... not that funky crap that bends in your mouth like a muscle 4) the steak tacos are perfectly seasoned and never chewy 5) the workers are always pleasant and dont mind my 7 separate orders with separate checks. This place is great. Go for the tacos, tortas, or tostadas
(5)Jodie S.
Cheap and delicious. Sober or drunk. However, it's cash only.
(4)Bobby D.
Despite being an on the side hole-in-the wall. The place does have actually good Mexican food. Except maybe for the skirt steak which, IMO, Was too dry & Not thick & hearty enough. But the enchiladas suizas are great, Though spicy hot, Even the refried beans can be spicy hot too, But delicious. The Chips & Salsa are worth a try too.
(4)Coco M.
Best taqueria on this strip of Ashland. The al pastor is sans pineapple, unlike some of the places around here--a personal preference, and I prefer it without, unlike Taco Veloz. The barbacoa is tasty, and if you get a side of beans they heat them up on the same griddle where they cook everything else, which gives them great flavor and destroys any hope of vegetarianism you might have clung to. The first time I went in they gave me and everybody else a free bowl of sorta spicy tomato noodle soup while we waited for our orders.
(4)Tony D.
Traspasada, you are like home to me! If only you were open 24 hours, but still, I'll take what I can get. Your tacos are hands down the BEST in Chicago. I'm a huge fan the Lazos as well, but this place is the call. Reasonably priced, great friendly staff and did I mention the Birreria? It's small, so not ideal if to dine in if you're with a crew of +4 people, but they are fast, fresh, and consistent. I'm here three times a week at least. I've converted vegetarians to lovers of the steak tacos, and this place is to blame. Oh and be kind and throw a couple of bucks in the tip jar. They'll take care of you next time. (ps Cash Only there's a few atms at the intersection though)
(5)Julian C.
Best tacos I've had in a long time. Al pastor, tripe, GOAT, delicious! Great salsa too. Skip La Pasadita(s) and go 4 blocks south.
(5)Kirby K.
Definitely my go-to spot for great Mexican takeout. Fresh and tasty!
(5)adam e.
delicious tacos. they have 9 or 10 different kinds of meats to try. the al pastor taco is awesome. If u've never head cabeza (head meat) or lengua (tongue), try them here as they're really tender and flavorful versions. Great little taqueria with very friendly staff.
(4)Grant M.
I actually joined Yelp mostly to review this place. I've lived in the neighborhood and frequented Taqueria Traspasada #2 for years, and the food is consistently great and Rene and everyone else that works there is fantastic. If you're near the intersection of Ashland and Chicago for any reason, do yourself a favor and take a quick taco break at Traspasada.
(5)Jason N.
Another place I found thanks to my fellow Yelp brethren. Made the drive down here on a late night. I ordered the Al pastor Huarache, the shell was good and cooked perfectly crisp, the pork was a tad fatty, but spiced well and tasty, and they used queso fresco along with the veggies, nice touch. It was good, nothing spectacular, and to be honest for $6 bucks you'll probably get a better value in a burrito. Also had the cecina sope, and the meat was forgettable, cooked well, but bland. My wife had the Carne Asada tacos and said they were excellent, I'll just get that next time. Wasn't overly impressed, but since it's late night and they do have a decent pastor taco sans pineapple, I'll be back. I'll just stick to the pork and steak tacos. Yes a 3-star review, can't give it 4 based off 1 visit. But don't be fooled, it's actually a 3-star review that I recommend and it's worth a shot for a late night Mexican fix.
(3)Yo U.
Taqueria Traspasada offers a small, if clean, dining space and friendly service, but its tacos are pretty average. I don't understand the excitement about this place.
(3)Steve S.
Meh. It was ok for what it was. I wouldn't have the pico and cilantro on my meal again. Wanted to try it because it's closer than the triplets, but I should have gone further north.
(3)Ian H.
Amazing chorizo
(5)Ana G.
I am Mexican and from this neighborhood. I have tried just about every Mexican restaurant in the area. If you are looking for tasty, no frills, quick, cheap food - look no further. The food is awesome and authentic!!! I highly recommend the tacos........ but you gotta have them with ceboya and cilantro.
(5)Ross K.
This place is the late night HYPE! People talk about how great La Pasadita is, but this little lunch counter style joint is where it is at for a late night taco fix. I have also patronized this place in a state of full sobriety, and have to say it hold up! One of the best Tacos in town. Check out the El Pastor!
(5)Jason L.
anything with their STEAK in it is phenomenal!!! the way they make it just brings all the flavors when eating: they grill the steak giving it that smoky, open flame taste!! steak burrito - everything w/out cilantro plus avocado HUGE burrito. horchata is pretty good there, just make sure its not frozen!! NOW THEY DELIVER!!!
(5)Fausta C.
you cannot go wrong with tacos al pastor and an imported coca-cola. i stopped in here with some girls after checking out sonotheque and i fell in love. bring this order to me now and i will reward you greatly!
(5)K B.
This place is great. Friendly, quick service at good prices. And the food is good along with some tasty salsa. One note it has been awhile since I have done burritos here and if I recall while they are fine I don't think it is Traspasada's strong point. I tend to do their tacos a lot and sometimes their enchilada plates.
(4)Trent M.
The hours may be questionable (seriously... 2am some nights, 12 some others) but the food is damn good. I can't think of a time when I ever had a bad meal here. Between the chili relleno burrito and the milanesa tortas I gained 15 pounds eating at this place (seriously... all from here) but every pound was worth it. Great salsa rojo as well.
(4)Tobia C.
This place may seem like it's not decent...but this is one of the best fast food restaurants in Chicago. I have been frequenting this no-nonsense joint for about five years. Two guys...one grill...and nothing but the best. It is cheap...it is fast...and it's open late. If you REALLY want to, you can sit down and eat. I highly reccommend trying this place when you have to wait in line for La Pasadita. No free nachos, however.
(4)