Antique Taco Chiquito

"The name Antique Taco conjures up images of old crusty tacos at grandma’s house. Probably the kind of place with plastic on the couches because nobody is allowed to touch anything or be comfortable. Luckily this place is anything but that. The Wicker Park taco joint is as casual, friendly, and welcoming as they come. And it doesn’t hurt they are serving some solid tacos as well. Antique is all wood finished, complete with large pane windows that offer up a lot of natural sunlight. Actual antique furniture and design pieces are present, but in a way that adds an element of cool to the place. It's this sleek combination that keeps things looking comfortable and not grandma-like even in the midst of old furniture, plus the long and narrow patio with a colorful brick wall helps brighten things up too. Taken together, it's laid- back, making Antique the kind of restaurant you can roll into wearing just about anything. Feel free to pop in for a casual lunch or dinner on a whim, because you don't need to change out of your favorite stupid t-shirt that probably says something like "in dog beers I've only had one." Of course, the tacos are solid too, which is why Antique as a whole works. Antique’s tacos are made with Mexican heritage in mind, but it’s not really an “authentic” taco joint. Instead, it’s more of a new-age take on everybody’s favorite handheld meal. Tacos come in orders of two and are rather large, which means two could be enough for one person, and two plus a side will definitely do the trick (four is a lot, even for us). That being said, two substantial tacos for $7-$9 is a good deal. And in general, Antique Taco is a good deal all around. Food Rundown Habanero Popcorn Popcorn with habanero, olive oil, and cheddar cheese. It’s interesting and fun to snack on, but we’d recommend only getting as a bonus item if you’ve got at least three or more people sharing things. Guac & Chips Great guac. A little excessive for a solo side, but we wouldn't judge you if you did. Grilled Ribeye Taco A hunk of grilled ribeye served with tomato salsa, onion, cilantro, and lime. Not our favorite. The ribeye is a little bland, so we’d probably skip it for the others. photo credit: Christina Slaton Crispy Fish Taco We love a good fried fish taco, and this is a good one. Served with Sriracha tartar sauce, smoked cabbage, scallions, and a bit of sesame. Pork Carnitas Taco Adobo rub and tamarind glazed pork with bacon, spinach, onion, avocado, and queso. Classic but with a twist. We’re in. photo credit: Christina Slaton Garlic Shrimp Taco Rather standard garlic shrimp, but nothing wrong with that if you’re a shrimp fan. The cauliflower elote and basil avocado salsa twist things up a bit. Chorizo Taco Not on the regular menu, but keep an eye out for it as a special. We’ve had it before and it’s great. Chili Cheese Curds Low-key one of the best things they serve. The chorizo chili and beer battered cheese is awesome. Get after it if you’re looking to indulge. photo credit: Christina Slaton Creamed Elote Thick, creamy, and with a bit of spice. It's a filling side but worth it. photo credit: Christina Slaton Abuelita’s Pop Tart Throw some Mexican chocolate and marshmallow in a homemade pastry and ya we’re down." - Sam Faye

"Antique Taco’s Ashley Ortiz will provide items for the Let’s Talk Womxn Picnic in White." - Naomi Waxman

"This baseball season, tacos from one of the city’s best taquerias will be available to White Sox fans while they watch their team at Guaranteed Rate Field. Antique Taco has taken over the stadium’s two taco stands on the main concourse. It’s part of a new batch of food offerings the team revealed on Wednesday in preparation for the 2019 season." - Ashok Selvam