Carniceria Maribel

Mhm, I’ve been coming here for six years now. That speaks volume. $5 taco de asada is worth it. Life is too short for bad food. I’ve seen this place go from 10minute wait to 30/40 minute wait. That is saying something. Nd I will wait everytime, if I have the time. Food is consistent and always hits the spot. My favorite taco spot in Chicago hands down. The owner Alex is an outstanding guy. Much love nd respect for what he has here. A gem. 💎

My beef with the New York City taco scene is biblical. I'm so tired of paying $5+ for a one bite taco. It's against the whole ethos of the taco. The humble taco has its beginnings as a street food meant to feed workers, families, and travelers at an accessible price. Walk into a Tacombi today and they look you dead in the eye and charge you $5.99 for a tiny chicken tinga taco. What has happened to the great and powerful taco? I know I'm probably being dramatic, as no one else I talk to gets this emotional charged over Taco-gate like I do, but I can't help how I feel. All this to say, I approached Carniceria Maribel in Chicago ready for my hope to be restored. I had no idea Chicago had such a large Mexican population, but that's why traveling is the best thing ever. You learn so much in such a short period of time. As we entered, my dopamine receptors began to flood when I realized this taco spot was in the back of a liquor store. This is how you know a spot is gonna go crazy. I felt like I was back in a hole in the wall taco in Puerto Vallarta. As we approached the menu I couldn't believe my eyes. All tacos (Carne Asada, Al Pastor, Chorizo, Ribeye, Lengua, Carnitas, Pollo, & Beef) were $4.99. Damn. I mean it wasn't Tacombi prices, but I was expecting $3.99 max. Are tacos everywhere just cooked? I put in my order for 5 tacos, sat at one of the 8 metal chairs, and began to spiral. "Maybe the affordable taco that I grew up on in the US is just gone..." After about a 10 minute wait, our names were called. My eyes LIT up when I saw these gargantuan tacos. My first thought was "omg there's no way I'm going to finish these." Each taco was served with two thick, handmade corn tortillas with a large surface area STUFFED with meat. At least double the size of a taco I had come to expect in NYC. It was a bigger serving per taco than the $11 burrito from Los Burritos Juarez in Brooklyn. Just when I thought all hope was lost, the good Lord threw me a life raft. These tacos were PHENOMENAL. SENSATIONAL. My favorites were easily the chorizo and the carne Asada. My goodness. Steam coming out and juices dropping on every bite, with a distinct flavor that reminded me of my favorite taco spots in San Diego. I'm getting hungry at my desk at 7:34am just thinking about these things. I will GLADLY pay $4.99 for this taco. As we were getting up to leave, I saw them making a few burritos and became rushed with regret that I didn't get one. If I had to do it over, I would have got 1 chorizo taco, 1 carne asada taco, and a carne asada burrito... but hindsight is always 20/20. Shoutout to Rob Martinez for the rec. A Rob Martinez rec has never let me down. If Rob Martinez has no fans, I am long gone. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

Had this place on my list for a while and tried the steak and carnitas tacos. Both were very flavorful and freshly prepared. The steak was a little overcooked and there was a long wait this day (about an hour). So I won’t be rushing to come back. Staff was super nice though.

This is exactly want you want out of a taco shop. Simple perfect huge tacos. Everything we tried was amazing! (Chorizo, pastor, carnitas, and carne asada tacos)

Yummy! Casual taqueria in the back of a store, walk up, place your order then wait patiently for it to be ready. We got tacos de cecina, pastor and a torta de asada. Todo muy rico! Y porciones grandes.

Honestly, the taco is delicious. Very good seasoning and meat. The service they do take a long time I didn’t see them put in the raw meat then I would understand that you know it’s cooking so it takes longer. I think they grill the meat in the morning. They probably chop it up and then reheat it, which is not bad cause the meat was really delicious, but they do have to work on being a little faster.

The food at Carniceria Maribel was phenomenal. I ordered the 3 carne asada tacos dinner, and it did not disappoint. The meat was juicy, tender, and made the order. The rice was also a nice touch. The beans were typical but very good as well. I’m not sure this is a “hidden gem” anymore because it blew up on TikTok but I definitely think more people should know about this place! I will be back.

I really appreciated the fresh ingredients. The carne asada tacos dinner plate was a banger! This was my first time here, and I was truly impressed. I’ll definitely be returning.

Tacos were great! It's a walk-in counter in the back of the grocery store. Order, eat, and pay as you leave. Convenient for a in and out meal.

- FOOD - I'm from LA where the mexican food absolutely SLAPS but this might be one of the best carne asada burritos I've ever had. It has the usual: beans, rice, lettuce, tomato, asada, but they add like a savory layer of cheese that just elevates things to another level. Maybe this is a Chicago thing. It's a pretty sizeable burrito too. - SERVICE - People are nice. - PLACE - The restaurant is in the back of a small liquor store, the food closes at 8pm but the store remains open until 9pm. It has seats and a long side table for indoor dining. Outside there's a mural of Selena, can't miss this place. Parking exists but it can be a challenge. - VERDICT - This is my new favorite burrito spot in Chicago.

Solid tacos! No skimping on meat, Mexican music blasting, and great customer service. Highlight for me is the meat is seasoned so well! Had to try some Mexican food coming from the Bay. Don't hesitate.

Came here for a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately, it was a packed Thursday night. I didn't think it would be that busy, but a group of hippies packed the place down. There was nowhere to sit and had to wait longer than I would have wanted for my tacos. The place is also small with limited seating. The kitchen is in the of this supermercado. I would say though, that it was definitely worth the wait. I ordered a carne asada taco as well as an al pastor taco. Both tacos were really delicious and went perfect with the salsas. The tacos are served on tortillas amarillas, which truly is the best tortilla for tacos. Staff he was great as well. Will definitely be returning.

food was amazing definitely recommend this place to any one definitely amazing and would for sure come regularly and service is really fast it was like five minutes and it was ready But overall this was an amazing food and service

I find this spot to be very comparable to Carnicería Guanajuato in both ambience, service and food. Ambience is unique in its own right as the restaurant is located in the back of a little grocery store. The service is quick and friendly. The food: The tortillas are (doubled up) corn el milagro tortillas which is standard for the area. The tacos are topped with onions and cilantro as typical for street tacos. The steak is a thick cut skirt steak which is mildly season and cooked thoroughly for better or worst. That pastor was marinated well, more sweet than spicy or tangy. The pastor had a great crisp to it, and would be a lot better if it had more crisp in my opinion. The pineapple was fresh, juicy, and complimented the flavor and texture of the pork. Overall the tacos are pretty average, maybe a little above average. The tacos are around $4.25 and filled to the max with meat and toppings. If they were a dollar cheaper or of higher quality meat (especially the steak) then I would give them four stars, it since they are not I will give three stars and choose Rubi's over Maribel while in the area.

This place is great. Tacos are great. A bit pricier than regular street tacos $4.99 but still they have lengua here which I love and it did not disappoint. The taco place is in the back of this grocery/liquor store and they have places to sit down and eat. Would recommend coming here if you're in the area

Growing up in Houston, I learned that the best tacos are at the back of a convenience store. So when my friend and I were waiting 100 minutes for our pizza from Novel Pizza's grand opening, we walked down the street for a little appetizer. Although a bit pricey ($4.50/taco), the tacos are large and incredibly flavorful. The texture on the carne asada taco? The PERFECT amount of crunch and char. Solid taco option, would come back again. Logistical tip: you order, then pay up at the front of the convenience store, then head back and wait

We got a Torta, Tacos w Lengua, ribeye, and al pastor Meat was all delicious in their own way. The lengua and ribeye could've used a touch of salt to enhance it more. Al pastor though was marinated so so well. Highly recommend and the tortillas- according to my boyfriend he said it tasted really authentic and the texture reminded him of mexico's small location so be aware in case you need to do take out, parking is alright but could be better due to level of pavement, but price goes well with what you get

Overall Thoughts: This is a small grocery store with a well-known restaurant section in the back serving up traditional corn tortilla tacos with robust flavor. It was busy on a Sunday afternoon and it took awhile to both place my order and get my food (there's also no bathroom, unfortunately). I ordered the Chorizo and Carne Asada tacos, and both were packed with flavor. I preferred the chorizo as the carne asada steak was a bit dry/tough, but tasty nonetheless. The tacos are $4.99 each which includes tax. Seats are limited too, with just a counter of stools available, but most people get takeout. I will definitely be back here-- they're most famous for their tacos, but I'd also be interested in trying their torta and burritos! -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.1/5 Service: 4.4/5 Overall Value: 4.4/5

Literally so so delicious, some of my fave tacos I've ever had. Since having birria, it's been hard going back to non-birria tacos, but the carne asada are just as good -- so fresh, so homemade. I could eat these every day. In a carniceria so you know it's good.

Great food and great service! A fan of the carne asada always and I enjoyed the pollo tacos too. I'd say $5 for one taco is a lil high but that just may be due to inflation in this economy. I'd give the sauces a 6/10 too.

We've been looking a solid neighborhood taco spot and relied on Yelp since it came as the first recommendation. You walk towards the back of the store, order, bring the order to the cashier to pay and wait for your food. I ordered the carne asada tacos (great taste), beef tongue (tender, not as big of a portion as carne asada), al pastor (not like your traditional style, I think carne asada tasted better). These tacos were about $5/each. The burritos were large and stuffed at $12. I think their red salsa is better than their green/tomatillo. Their green isn't thick enough for me. Happy to have found this place. Might be our new neighborhood spot.

I initially came. Excuse everyone professes this is the best place in the city to get tacos & during my visit many patrons also claimed as much. I can indeed say the food is good but I'm not sure if it's the holy grail. I will admit I didn't indulge in tacos but for the price & quality you'd be hard pressed to find better. The fried chicken inside my tots was cooked to perfection. There were a few bites that included all the variants of the sandwich & those were definitely 5 star worthy but I'll have to wait until I indulge in the tacos to see.

After hearing the hype from other Chicagoans, had to come as a San Diego native! The vibe was super homey, situated in the back of a bodega. Tried some of the Carne Asada tacos, which was the "favorite" of the restaurant, and had a decent experience. The tacos were pretty expensive and were a bigger size. Overall, my impression was dry; the flavor was there but I wish there was more fatty meat or some more juices. Overall, pretty traditional, or as traditional to an American taco as you can get. Not sure if I would get another Carne Asada taco, maybe one-off, however. Will try the others in the future (on a taco run).

Simply unbelievable tacos. The steak is delicious. Marinated, juicy. Very tender bursting with flavor. Very unassuming small taco grill inside a corner convenience store. But inside: taco heaven.

Burrito was big and flavorful!!! The steak has a nice charr and not tough!!! Service was good, did have to wait a little bit because it was a line but it's worth it. Definitely going back for the tacos!!!

Cinco de Mayo 2023 had me hankering for some good Mexican food. I wanted to find the best tacos in Pilsen and all the reviews on Yelp pointed towards Carniceria Maribel. I preordered over the phone and after work picked up our meals. My order consisted of a carne asada burrito (for the husband) and carne asada tacos (me). What I didn't realize is this restaurant is tucked in the back of their liquor store. I went back to get my food then returned to the front of the store (liquor section) to pay. Once home, we unwrapped our meals and I gotta say this place is really good! The meat is tender and lean which to me is always a plus. I personally dislike large chunks of fat and gristle so having this was much appreciated. Their meats hold good char and are seasoned to perfection. Cost is a little higher than other restaurants in the area but quality makes up for it. If you do plan on dining in, please note seating is minimal. Only a few stools and counter space line the side of the wall seating a max of 6-8. It's more of a grab and go place. They have no dedicated parking lot requiring you to find a space street side. What I regret not ordering were their al pastor tacos. I forgot when I placed this order but after having such a good experience here, I doubt this will be my last visit!

This is the kind of place with the taste, authenticity, quality, and experience that makes you glad to be living life in chicago. The asada tacos were some of my favorite i've eaten in the city. Not too many places to sit, but enough if you're here on your own (or with another person). Quick and legit service. Will be back!

Pure deliciousness! I don't live close, but I do stop in as often as I can. Love checking out places for tacos. I sort of stopped my search when I visited here last year. It can cost a few extra bucks, but in my opinion, it's so very much worth the price. Staff is absolutely as nice and patient. The mural of Selena on the side of the store is just another reason to stop by. Want one of the best tacos in the city? Hurry up and get here. So many choices, and all so good! CARNE ASADA FRIES? Yes please and thank you

Run don't walk In the back of a grocery store (sells liquor) is where its at. Nice-size tacos, hot off the grill, flavorful & delicioso good. Best tacos I ever had outside. $5 a pop, worth it. Other items to choose from. Revolving doors busy & if the CPD having lunch there, you know. Please Tip

Best tacos in Chicago! Quick, affordable, and delicious delicious. Service is great as well.

Amazing taco/burrito shop located in the back of a Mexican grocery convenience store! Service was quick, pricing was fair and the carne asada burrito was out of this world. It was also very big, I shared this with someone and walked out so full! Will definitely be back to try more things.

This is where it's at. Hidden in the back, just a couple of dudes banging out orders. Everyone is friendly, and the store it's in has really cool Mexican snacks and products. But the TACOS are so good. Everyone said the best tacos come from places like these, hidden little places in grocery stores and it definetly met the hype.

I've been making my way through steak tortas in Pilsen & this place is a gem! With inflation, prices for food especially tacos has gone up. Tortas feel reasonably priced & always come loaded. The service of this place is like a bodega/speakeasy with the front being a liquor store & the back is where food is. It's definitely a lowkey vibe with locals kids coming for a cheap eat. I will definitely go back again especially since its the building with the Selena mural ‍

In the back of this neighborhood grocery and liquor store is some of the best carne asada in the city. I got it in a burrito but it would be awesome as a taco or torta as well. Flavorful, tender beef. You can eat in a small dining room or take it togo. Quick friendly counter service.

Good service and bomb burritos. Had steak and Al Pastor, and both were delish. One of the other reviewers mentioned that the Al Pastor could use pineapple, but I disagree. I like the flavor of their Al Pastor, which is a little unique and definitely savory without the sweetness. Quality of meat is good, meaning not a lot of fat or gristle. I'm going back for more!

Would definitely come back to this hidden gem,delicious food and excellent service,it was definitely worth it.

Phenomenal tacos, great people. Awesome service. I had 3 steak tacos. Highly recommended

What can I say? The score here says it all...This food is the real deal. In the back of small local grocery store these cooks are putting out some amazing Mexican street food. I'm just going to end this here by saying the chicken burrito was the best chicken burrito I've ever had and I've eaten them all over the USA including Los Angeles and in mexico Btw the tacos are amazing here as well. Looking forward to going back.

One of the best taco spots in the city! Generously filled tacos! Meat is seared and seasoned to perfection and the salsas will NOT DISAPPOINT!

The situation here is pretty unique for Chicago. It's part Bodega, part taco joint. You have to walk through the storefront and up a ramp to the back, where you will find a stainless steel countertop affixed to the wall near the windows. Just past that is a counter facing an open kitchen where someone will take your order. Once you tell them what you want, you have to take it back to the counter at the front to pay for your meal. Be sure to grab some drinks from the coolers for as you walk by! Once the food is ready, someone from the kitchen will bring it to you with bottles of salsa. We ordered a bunch of tacos and guacamole w/ chips. Carnitas: These were super crispy and deliciously tender. Carne asada: You could taste the open flame on the meat. Another superbly tender offering. Lengua: Hands down the best I've ever had. It was just unbelievably soft and perfectly marinated. Al pastor: Another melt-in-your-mouth absolute banger of a taco. Guacamole: The freshest and most vibrant guac I've ever had. The portions were incredibly generous and was so delicious that the thought of ordering more was like a nagging voice in my soul. Sadly, I was too full to eat another bite and decided that we will definitely be back. I'm even canceling my reservations for Dusek's next week to try their burritos before a concert To call this place a hidden gem doesn't do the food justice. They're very good at what they do and have been in the business since 1990.

I'm a Cali native so I'm hella spoiled when it comes to my Mexican food and few places stack up in my book. But when I tell you this whole in the wall shop is BOMB!!!!!! Some of the best chicken tacos I've ever had and that's truly saying something. I will def be a regular here and happy as hell to find this spot!!

Steak burrito was good very generous with the steak and toppings!! Falls apart tell them easy toppings The pork taco is extremely salty beware!!

Hidden gem in the back of a grocery store. They use the freshest ingredients probably bought right from the store they are inside. I had some veggies tacos this time, but have had the asada and pastor tacos. Both were great. The service is great. Everyone is really friendly. They have chairs along a table connected to the wall in the back to dine in. Whenever I am in the area I drop in this place.

Carniceria Maribel is part mini mart/grocery, carniceria, and eatery. The tacos are absolutely delicious! The carne asada is a solid choice, but I personally think their tacos de pollo are the best in the city. The meat is so flavorful and juicy, cooked to perfection. The red and green salsas are addicting. It is hard to stop yourself from adding more salsa to your tacos because it is just that good. The people who work the counter and front of the store are very friendly and accommodating. My dad has some mobility issues and they held the doors open for him and helped him use the ramp to go to the eatery in the back. The establishment is clean. There are only a few spots to eat at the back so that is something to take into consideration. They do have order ahead and pick up available which is really convenient! Carniceria Maribel is definitely a must visit when you are in the area - worth the drive as well!

10/10 would recommend, will definitely be going back. My burrito was amazing and very hot (as in warmth not spice)

This is fantastic option in Pilsen. Walk in the store and go to the back for a delicious variety of Mexican options. Everything is good & very reasonably priced - but I recommend the carne asada burrito in particular. There's limited seating inside or take it 'to go'. Either way, you will not be disappointed. Oh, and the staff is also super friendly and work really hard! Love supporting this type of local business.

Solid tacos here! Got the Al pastor and steak asada and both were delicious. The red salsa is actually hot! Would definitely recommend. Burrito was ok, wish it was more toasty.

Fab! Thanks to the Yelp community for their reviews. An al pastor torta for me, chicken tacos for my wife. Sabrosa! The red and green salsas added the perfect amount of heat. Warm hospitality to top it off.

The great food is worth checking this place out. Parking can be difficult during the business times of the day.

This was almost perfect, would've been a 5 star review up until I had my last taco which is the carnitas one. It was such a disappointment -- the meat was dry, rough, and bland. This was also the taco they initially forgot to add to my order and tab, maybe it was a sign that I ignored. I loved their lomo de res (ribeye) and their carne asada tacos. I ended up ordering 1 carnitas, 1 lomo de res and 2 carne asada tacos. The steak ones were delicious, and I'd say it's the second best I've had in the city. That's huge, considering it's located inside of a grocery store. There's ample tables and chairs for you to opt for dining in or taking out. It was busy and packed on a Tuesday evening. They take your order, and you pay for it at the front register. My partner had a chorizo taco, a carne asada taco, and a cheeseburger that came with fries. I love how generous they are with the limes, you get half of a wedge per taco, and it's perfect because I do love the hint of lime juice over it along with their homemade salsa verde. The onion and cilantro is perfect for a traditional taco. The meat quality is great, only missing the smoky flavor. There were certain areas that had a bit more fat but it was tender enough to pull apart if you didn't want to consume it which I appreciate. You'll have to come here to see for yourself, don't snooze on this place, and definitely skip the carnitas taco altogether to save yourself from disappointment. The guy behind the counter said their carne asada is the most popular, so they make a lot of it and it's fresh. I do enjoy a whole piece of flank steak, so when I come back I'll stick with the lomo de res and the carne asada. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for traditional Mexican cuisine.

Best Tacos in Chicago. No frills, great spot to stop in for an amazing Tacos. Best Secret in Chicago!

Made with love try this spot out of normal but good. Not many left before the clear people come and take it over

This is my absolute favorite place on this earth. A pillar of the community. We would be lost without it.

You have my heart, Carniceria Maribel. Ordered the torta con al pastor and chips and salsa. It was all just so delicious. I also was pleasantly surprised with the salsa! It was warm, I've only had room temperature salsa before. Also the chairs were good for my back (I have chronic back pain). I can't wait to go back.

Ordered tacos de asada to go. Service was quick and tacos were packeddd with meat. Very good chopped up steak. We will be back!

Best tacos ever !!!! They are very welcoming every time I come into the store. Food is amazing and wait is not long then 10 mins. I highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!! Found them from TikTok!!

Was in the neighborhood and seeing what was around and this had good reviews so figured I'd stopped by. Thank you to the reviews for helping me choose cause I loved this place!! When you enter it looks like a bodega, and then you quickly figure out that the restaurant is in the back. The menu isn't extensive which I really like so that I am not overwhelmed with choices. Had myself four tacos, two of lengua and two of carne asada, plus an horchata. Always a big bonus when they have aguas frescas! The folks in the kitchen and even the man running the cashier up front were so friendly and were so happy to find out that it was my first time there. Just made me feel so welcomed. But now, to the food. The tacos are no joke. They are not those gentrified overpriced tiny tacos that other places serve. These are great sized tacos with plenty of meat on top and sound tortillas to hold them up. The meats themselves are v tasty. Would have loved to get more but honestly four might have been one too many. The horchata was also so refreshing, particularly to balance the spicy ness of the red salsa. Definitely going to want to come back and try more things on the menu!