EL TRAGON TAQUERIA
Mexican restaurant · Goose Island
Gas Station Plaza, 1234 N Halsted St UNIT C Mobil, Chicago, IL 60642
Highlights
Tacos, burritos, quesabirria & 50+ tequilas in cozy spot
Tacos, burritos, quesabirria & 50+ tequilas in cozy spot
"“Gas station food” is usually limited to things like hot dogs and Tic Tacs. Unless it's the Mobil complex, which is where you’ll find El Tragón Taqueria. All of the Mexican food at this counter-service spot is great, but prioritize the bistec tacos. Juicy ribeye gets a sprinkling of cheese while on the plancha, giving each piece of meat a crispy crust, and it’s all topped off with grilled green onions. Oh, and the trio of housemade salsas on every table? They’re fantastic—drizzle a hefty dollop of the smoky salsa roja before each bite." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"“Gas station food” is usually limited to things like hot dogs and Tic Tacs. Unless it's the Mobil complex in Lincoln Park, which is where you’ll find El Tragón Taqueria. All of the Mexican food at this colorful counter-service spot is great, but the bistec tacos are the main reason we keep coming back. Juicy ribeye gets a sprinkling of cheese while on the plancha, giving each piece of meat a crispy crust, and it’s all topped off with grilled green onions. Oh, and the trio of housemade salsas on every table? They’re fantastic—drizzle a hefty dollop of the smoky salsa roja before each bite." - adrian kane, john ringor
"El Tragón Taqueria isn’t just a convenient place to grab some Mexican food to process the trauma of spending $300 to fill up your gas tank at the adjacent Mobil. This Lincoln Park spot is a burrito destination in its own right. The meat-rice-beans-pico-sour cream ratio creates an ideal balance of salty, tangy, smoky, and acidic flavors, neatly encapsulated in a crisp griddle-pressed tortilla. Any of the meat options are fantastic, but we especially like the al pastor or the smoky asada. Add some of their excellent housemade salsa and prepare to be in burrito heaven." - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen, adrian kane
"Gas station restaurants aren’t unique in and of themselves. But when a spot attached to a Mobil makes food that’s worth seeking out even when your tank is full—that’s special. Enter El Tragón. Everything on this Mexican restaurant’s menu is fantastic, like juicy quesabirria, crispy chilaquiles, and a bistec taco with fried cheese and green onions that’s one of the city’s best. Plus, it’s BYOB, so bring your favorite six-pack and get ready to explain to your friends why you told them to meet at a gas station for dinner." - veda kilaru, adrian kane, john ringor
"Great birria is everywhere. Taco trucks, food halls, and even (pause for dramatic effect)—gas stations. And that’s where you’ll find El Tragón Taqueria, a small Lincoln Park restaurant that shares a parking lot with a Mobil. There are lots of hits here, like their bistec taco and chilaquiles, but getting quesabirria with every visit is rule number one of our El Tragón Handbook. The tortilla is griddled perfectly with just enough crispiness to complement the buttery braised beef and molten cheese. The consomé is rich and flavorful without being too oily—you’ll be tempted to take shots of it, and you definitely should." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, jessica rome
