Uptown Taqueria

Uptown Taqueria located @ 1706 W Lawrence Ave. it’s a small Mexican restaurant, nothing fancy w/​very good tacos for $ 1.75/taco. Carne Asada, pollo, al pastor, lengua, cabesa & chorizo. Great red sauce, good chili flavor with a little kick.

I didn’t have a bad experience here. It’s a typical taqueria. There are three or four little tables right next to the kitchen. The tacos are made to order. They just weren’t very good. I tried the carne asada and pollo tacos. Both were below average. I was enticed because this place is really close to where I live and the food is very cheap. Most taquerias are pretty inexpensive and there are four other options close to Uptown Taqueria so I doubt I’ll be back. Maybe it’s just a taste thing and the seasonings weren’t to my liking. I’m not sure but I’ll go somewhere else next time I want to scarf some tacos on my day off.

I used to think the tacos at Los Comales on 18^th St were the best in Chicago. Then this weekend, my dad introduced me to Uptown Taqueria.
This evening, I was on my way to the grocery store for some dinner ingredients, when I drove past the taqueria. I ended up doing a u-​turn on Lawrence to go back and have some tacos for dinner!
I had 2 al pastor tacos and 1 carnitas taco and they were both delicious. I will go back there. My husband had 2 chorizo tacos. What really impressed me is that their tacos are not greasy. Even the chorizo ones, which is rare — it’s great! I can’t believe we hadn’t come here before.
THEN, the cook offered us a tamal — I am not even sure they have tamales on the menu, but he said his family sends them from Mexico. It’s a sweet tamal called a canario, and it’s like cake wrapped in corn husk. I don’t even normally like sweets but I was so happy with my dessert! Everything was SO GOOD.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up back there again this week! Yay Uptown Taqueria!

This is one of my two go-​to takeout spots for tacos/​tortas al pastor. Not as great as Carmela’s down the street but parking is much easier so I come here more often. They used to be cash only but now take debit/​credit cards.

I ordered 3 al pastor tacos and Horchata. Lots of meat. Grilled onions and cilantro. Very greasy. It wasn’t that great. Horchata tasted watered down. Two stars: I’ve experienced better.

Best tacos ever. Don’t go here looking for a chain-​style restaurant with Mexican food. This is food you can’t find on a typical menu like Chipotle. Lengua, cabesa, and chorizo! Awesome prices and great quality.

The al pastor tacos were the best of the 5 that I had, and at $ 1.50 per taco this is a solid place to go for a quick lunch — the green sauce is fantastic.

Bout to max some tacos

Great tacos but man that hot sauce is HOT. I couldn’t feel my face when I got done eating these things!

Whenever I am in the area I have to stop here.

Damn, this place is good. No, you do not want to «dine» here — get your tacos and flee — but it is such a cheap, delicious dinner! I like the chicken tacos with avocado, cilantro, and onion. My boyfriend has asked for lime three times and has yet to be successful so give them a reminder about it. Deduct a star for the dingy atmosphere, fluorescent lighting and disgusting bathroom. There’s something about restaurants never, ever investing in a fresh bathroom vanity that really bothers me. I bought my own vanity for $ 50 off craigslist and I never looked back.

I hesitate to give 5 because I didn’t get to really investigate the place – I just blew by and grabbed some last minute tacos before my train. I can assure you that their service is fast, though there were only a few guys eating the two behind the counter were moving at full speed.
My tacos were to go and unfortunately, wrapping them in tinfoil mashed up the extra tortillas, but what are you gonna do. I happily ate them one mega taco ECG instead of the usual configuration (meat divided between a few tortillas). This would have been wholly avoided if I had just eaten them on the plate like one does at this sort of place.
They were delicious. There may be better tacos out there, but for the price of 1.75 each, I’m not sure you’ll find them. Sort of your archetypal cheap and delicious taco joint. My buddy lives in the neighborhood too, so I will return as possible.

GREAT RED SAUCE, Championship level Al Pastor.
No jokes, this place is a serious Al Pastor contender. This Uptown Taqueria used to be the Uptown taco on Lawrence and Broadway, across from the Riv. Taquerias Uptown is where I had my first Al Pastor experience in the early nineties… it was spicy, and flavorful… and good, especially when under the influence of certain greenery
(it was a long time ago!)
So their newer spot, here a few miles east on Lawrence, the tacos…
Al Pastor on a spit, and you can be sure from the glorious fat content in the meat, that these guys are really out for blood and are way serious about this taco. It is delicious.
Once more, the red sauce here is FIRE, and I typically lean to the green, simply because it is usually tastier, less tannic and a bit spicier, not here –their red sauce is more than half the battle. This is better than run of the mill pastor, without the bullshit amateur mistakes of pineapple chunks, over spiced concoction, bizarre chile/​annato colored sauces or pastes, no bullshit here. This Al Pastor has a mild coloring, and a deliciously potent seasoning, it is pretty damn good.
I had to hop in the minivan and rush over to Carmela’s tacos (my reigning Al Pastor champ)…just to see if we had a contest here, and boy it was close… However, when Uptown turned their lease over to Carmela, they must’ve given up the recipe as well.
This place is truly good, but if you’re on this street thinking you want a taco shaved off of a spit? head a little more east… or, do like me. Have both.

Best vegetarian burritos in the hood!
I had come to expect veggie burritos to be filled with lettuce and sour cream, a bit of cheese and some slimy refried beans, so I was surprised to watch them cut and grill fresh green peppers, onions and avocado. Otherwise, it’s your ordinary divey taqueria… but the fresh veggies make all the difference.
Red salsa is VERY hot, green is nice – spicy but flavorful.

Hands down, the best taco within a four block radius. And I would know, since when we moved up here we tried them all. As the sign on the shop and many reviews say, the al pastor is definitely their specialty. The price is right for a taco snack whenever you want one (we’re big fans of the torta).
If you have any topping preference, if you say it, they are happy to accomodate you. Also, there is this one chef (the only one I’ve had there, but I assume they have more) who just seems so genuinely happy to see you when you come in the door and he’s always in a great mood. His good mood is so infectious, getting tacos there is actually like a small pick-​me-​up just because the chef is awesome.

Love their carne asada tacos with cilantro and onions.
I also like getting some tamarindo or horchata if they have it. I have had the taco dinner, but the rice and beans are not very good. They are reheated in a microwave.
The tacos are made fresh though and are very tasty. And very reasonably priced.
If you want quick, easy and good tacos, this is the place.

A great, cash-​only, taqueria in Ravenswood. Like most reviews have said the al pastor is a must try. Good tacos and burritos. All simple stuff but I think that is what you want from a good taqueria. Another bonus about this place is the red (or rojo I guess) sauce they give you with your food. It is spicy, smoky, and has a great pepper taste. I wish they bottled that stuff! The service is always friendly and fast. And best is always made fresh. A great little joint!

I have a goal to try all the taquerias on Lawrence between Western and Broadway, which is the only reason that I would ever poke my head into this somewhat dingy outpost.
Between takeout-​steam and grease, the tacos were too soggy. The meats ranged from very good (carnitas) to south of just okay (al pastor). But by far my biggest complaint is that there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the choice of toppings. Nothing is listed on the menu board, and I failed to specify my non-​gringo preference (onions and cilantro only on everything). The chorizo came with just lettuce and tomato (lame). On the pollo, there was lettuce, tomato, AND sour cream (WTF). On the carnitas, there was lettuce, tomato, onions, cilantro, and jalapeño, which I have to admit was pretty damn tasty. The al pastor was seemingly unadorned, except for a few tiny shreds of brutalized onions.
Weird.
At least the price was right – $ 7.26 for all four.

I’ve been here only twice now, and so far the food’s pretty good. I know it’s kinda like a taco stand inside, but the food’s good, cooked to order, and the «sin cebollas» (no onions) request was respected.
This place is like 5 minutes from the office, so on days when I know I have no time for lunch, I will go here and have a hearty meal that will not break the bank (two tacos and an horchata for a total of $ 5?!?).

This used to be located on Lawrence near Broadway (where Carmelo’s is now). Their tacos are amazing. Simple but very good. The al pastor tacos are one of their best. I also love that their hot sauces are actually HOT. The horchatas are also very yummy. Great way to wash down the tacos. They don’t accept credit cards — cash only!
There’s a small dining area and a unisex bathroom. Be warned, the bathroom walls are covered in gang graffiti. Come here for the food not the décor.