Tepalcates

Tepalcates in Roscoe Village Serves Some of Chicago’s Best Lomo Tacos | Eater Chicago

"Lines form at this casual, family-run Roscoe Village restaurant, where co-owner José Correa said, “Anything this good is worth the wait.” Since moving from a spot in Belmont Cragin in 2023, it has already expanded into a second dining area. You order at the counter, food comes to your table, and the check arrives at the end; expect sturdy, chewy tortillas and freshly fried chips. You’re here for the lomo tacos—rib-eye with onions and grilled jalapeños—an approach that surged in U.S. popularity after Mexico City’s El Califa de León earned a Michelin star for the taco made with thinly sliced gaonera; the thin, flat cut delivers a higher flavor-to-surface ratio and a more tender bite, and the grilled jalapeños add a kick. Also order the suadero, prepared here with brisket and served con copia (a second tortilla) and a “jardín” of cilantro and onion. The carne en su jugo, a caldo from Jalisco packed with meat, beans, bacon, and radishes, comes in a portion large enough to share and arrives with four salsas—try as many as you can if you can tolerate heat—while the guava agua fresca pairs well with anything spicy. Broken pieces of pottery integrated into the walls and furniture allude to the restaurant’s name, and to beat the lines it’s best to arrive early, ahead of the noon lunch crowds Sunday through Tuesday." - Brenda Storch