La Chaparrita is a bustling Little Village corner shop where a hybrid grocery store serves up some of the best, authentic tacos in Chicago, vibrant decor and all.
"Inside this small taqueria and market in Little Village you’ll find a handful of tables with colorful chairs, vibrant papel picado, and some of the best tacos in Chicago. A few of our favorites at La Chaparrita are their carne asada, smoky chorizo, and crunchy beef intestine. And since all of the tacos are hovering at $3, it’s easy to come up with all sorts of combos that will comfortably fall around $9. That extra dollar can go towards some candy, ice cream, or a lottery ticket, so you won’t even need this guide." - john ringor, veda kilaru
"You can get excellent tacos all over Chicago, but if we could teleport to any taqueria whenever we wanted, it’d be La Chaparrita in Little Village. This grocery store-restaurant hybrid has tons of varieties like asada, suadero, lengua, or cabeza, so you can come up with your all-star taco roster. And don’t miss out on their signature tripa—it’s perfectly crunchy and salty, and the tortillas get a quick dip in savory beef broth before crisping up on the griddle. Grab a seat in their colorful dining area, or get something from their take-out window if you’re in a rush. " - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen
"La Chaparrita is located in the front of a grocery store in Little Village, but we doubt you’ll be doing any shopping while you’re here. You’ll be too distracted by the gentleman making some of the best tacos in Chicago. There’s a lot to choose from (with varieties like longaniza, sweetbread, carne asada, brain, and tripe), and if there’s some you’ve never eaten before, this is the place to try them—they’re all balanced and flavorful, and made even better by tortillas dipped into a simmering broth before being warmed on the grill. After eating as many tacos as you can, then start looking for groceries." - adrian kane, john ringor
"Hidden inside a grocery store on a side street in Little Village, La Chaparrita serves arguably the best tacos in town. The crispy tripe, cooked in a circular metal pan called a charola, is phenomenal and joined by other stellar options like suadero and longaniza. Order a variety to try at Douglass Park." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff
"One of Chicago’s best taquerias is housed inside a small corner store in Little Village. La Chaparrita specializes in tacos de fritangas, or “fried tacos.” Popular in Mexico City, they’re filled with ingredients like longaniza, suadero, and tripa, which are cooked in a circular metal grill called a charola." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff
