What's the deal with the Mexican food in Lakeview? (Chicago: dangerous, homeless)

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by RingWalk

Obviously there is no point in debating whether a restaurant 'sucks' or not. I love Sultan's Market, personally. I could eat there three times a week. Similarly I've always had a good experience at Andalous, which is a good family run Moroccan restaurant. What is wrong with Hai Yen? Again it may not be 'the best' Vietnamese food in the city and may in fact be watered down, I don't know, but it's always good. Ever tried the Austrian Bakery? That guy is an Austrian and went to a renowned culinary school there and his food is very authentic and delicious. I don't like it but I have Asian friends--and their immigrant parents--who love Green Tea. For Thai, no, PS Bangkok or Thai Classic aren't Sticky Rice, but they are OK. If you're too hard core for the regular menu ask to order off the Thai menus; I'm sure they'd make you whatever you want. Maybe you can order the fried caterpillars in fluent Thai.

I've always been a fan of PS Bangkok and Thai Classic... and the one time I tried Andalous I was very impressed. Hai Yen is OK, too, although I've only been to the one up on Argyle.

Still have to try the Austrian Bakery... not sure why I haven't gotten around to that one yet.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by RingWalk

You just told a lifelong Chicagoan, and a southsider at that I think, to familiarize himself with Chicago street food.

I live on the near South Side now but was born and grew up on the West Side (beginning when it was still largely Irish, Jewish, Italian and Bohemian) and I've lived on the North Side too and am probably soon moving to Lincoln Square or there abouts. I've been around.

The first beef sandwich I remember was from Carm's on Cicero by Harrison but my favorite was a joint on Laramie near Lake called Linda's. Favorite pizza was Calderone's on Laramie at Jackson and Sorrento's on Madison and Menard. And my Dad often drove over to the Home Run Inn on 31st. when it was just a tavern selling pizzas. We used to get corned beef sandwiches from a Jewish deli at Quincy and Cicero and from Randall's, a Jewish deli at Madison and Central.

When we went out to Skips to see the hot cars we'd stop at Russell's BBQ on Thatcher or Johnnie's beef stand in Elmwood Park. Jim and Pete's at North and Harlem was a good pizza and Italian place too.

For Bohemian chow (which my Dad loved) we'd head down to 22nd St. and go to Klas or the Old Prague.

There was a very good place called the Atlantic on Grand east of Harlem that had good Irish and British Isles chow, I used to go there for fish and chips.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

Totally agree. I was going to mention Pasadita as a good north side taqueria, till I remembered that it's on the West Side. You want good Mexican food, you have to go to Pilsen or Little Village.

Oh come off it. That's just mindless homerism. Even in your post you say you know a good place on the West side, but you can only get good Mexican on the South Side in Pilsen or Little Village, you contradict yourself in your own post.There's plenty of good Mexican on the NW and N sides.

The stretch of Ashland around Division with the Supermercado, La Pasadita, Carniceria Leon, etc. is solid. There are a a number of good places South of there along Chicago Ave. as well.

The area around Western and Armitage is solid with Arturo's, Lazo's, Las Asadas, and Birrieria Estilo Jalisco. There's a lot of other good places in the area like Taqueria Moran and Don Chema.

I'm not going to get into all the other places throughout the Northside like Mixteco, Los Nopales, Frontera/Topo, XOCO, and on and on. Pilsen and Little Village certainly are neighborhoods that have solid Mexican restaurants, but if you think they are the only ones in the city you really need to get out more.

[chet everett]

...once you get a fixed gear bicycle and jeans that hug your ankles your appreciation for all thing "authentic" increases 10,000x

Originally Posted by Attrill

Oh come off it. That's just mindless homerism. Even in your post you say you know a good place on the West side, but you can only get good Mexican on the South Side in Pilsen or Little Village, you contradict yourself in your own post.There's plenty of good Mexican on the NW and N sides.

The stretch of Ashland around Division with the Supermercado, La Pasadita, Carniceria Leon, etc. is solid. There are a a number of good places South of there along Chicago Ave. as well.

The area around Western and Armitage is solid with Arturo's, Lazo's, Las Asadas, and Birrieria Estilo Jalisco. There's a lot of other good places in the area like Taqueria Moran and Don Chema.

I'm not going to get into all the other places throughout the Northside like Mixteco, Los Nopales, Frontera/Topo, XOCO, and on and on. Pilsen and Little Village certainly are neighborhoods that have solid Mexican restaurants, but if you think they are the only ones in the city you really need to get out more.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Oh come off it. That's just mindless homerism. Even in your post you say you know a good place on the West side, but you can only get good Mexican on the South Side in Pilsen or Little Village, .

Pilsen and Little Village ARE on the West Side.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by eevee

I'm liking the options we now have up here in Uptown. Even the lady w/ the tamale cart near Truman has better food than some of the Mexican restaurant in Lakeview. the restaurant on the corner of Lawrence and Clark is our favorite so far

Lindo Guadalajara? *shudder*

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Pilsen and Little Village ARE on the West Side.

Good catch - thanks.

My point still stands though. If someone doesn't think there is any good Mexican outside of Pilsen or Little Village they need to get out more.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Attrill

There's plenty of good Mexican on the NW and N sides.
...
The area around Western and Armitage is solid with Arturo's, Lazo's, Las Asadas, and Birrieria Estilo Jalisco. There's a lot of other good places in the area like Taqueria Moran and Don Chema.

Las Asadas is AMAZING. Love their "house" black bean salsa, very spicy and unique.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Las Asadas is AMAZING. Love their "house" black bean salsa, very spicy and unique.

Did you know there's one in Avondale now, in the old Pepe's space?

[quigboto]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Oh come off it. That's just mindless homerism. Even in your post you say you know a good place on the West side, but you can only get good Mexican on the South Side in Pilsen or Little Village, you contradict yourself in your own post.There's plenty of good Mexican on the NW and N sides.

The stretch of Ashland around Division with the Supermercado, La Pasadita, Carniceria Leon, etc. is solid. There are a a number of good places South of there along Chicago Ave. as well.

The area around Western and Armitage is solid with Arturo's, Lazo's, Las Asadas, and Birrieria Estilo Jalisco. There's a lot of other good places in the area like Taqueria Moran and Don Chema.

I'm not going to get into all the other places throughout the Northside like Mixteco, Los Nopales, Frontera/Topo, XOCO, and on and on. Pilsen and Little Village certainly are neighborhoods that have solid Mexican restaurants, but if you think they are the only ones in the city you really need to get out more.

Let's not forget Cemitas Puebla, in Humboldt Park, which has been profiled on "Check Please!" and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" Their food is fantastic. I also have a hole in the wall taqueria around the corner from me, La Perla Tapatia, where I eat lunch at least twice a week.