La Chaparrita Taqueria
Taco restaurant · South Lawndale ·
Authentic Mexico City tacos: suadero, tripa, cabeza, canasta & more
Authentic Mexico City tacos: suadero, tripa, cabeza, canasta & more
"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
"From behind the counter of this half-Mexican grocery store and half-taco wonderland, taquero César “El Molusco” Castillo consistently delivers some of the best tacos in town. His technique uses a flat, thin, circular, hot surface with a dome-like center known as a “comal con sombrero,” just like the ones you will find on the streets of Mexico City. Start with the juicy and flavorful suadero, a Defeño darling featuring a thin cut of meat that is finely chopped and served with cilantro and onion. Try the steamed tacos de canasta with pressed chicharrón, potatoes, or beans before diving into the more adventurous items like cabeza (made with many parts of a beef’s head), crispy tripe, and sesos (brain), which are go-tos for regulars of this Little Village favorite. Featured among a few others on this list in the Netflix series Taco Chronicles, according to the show, owner Angelina Hernández prides herself on serving a taco “that tastes like Mexico.”" - Brenda Storch
"With its vibrant papel picado and an altar dedicated to the Santa Muerte, this dimensional door to Mexico is at the very least, visually fascinating. Half-Mexican grocery store and half-taco wonderland, César “El Molusco” Castillo consistently delivers some of the best tacos in town from behind the counters. His technique uses a flat, thin, and circular hot surface with a dome in the center called comal con sombrero, much like the ones you will find on the streets of Mexico City. Start modest with a sampling of the more traditional variations (including al pastor and asada), then dive into the adventurous items. Cabeza (beef head), crispy tripe, and sesos (brain) are go-to’s for regulars of this Little Village establishment. The tacos de canasta (basket tacos) are also favorites, and unlike other tacos, which are better when consumed immediately, de canasta tacos travel well by design. Beverage options include aguas frescas of tropical fruits like guanabana and exotic ones like alfalfa with pingüica, a small wild berry that looks like an apple and grows in shrubs, and the fermented tepache made with pineapple juice. La Chaparrita was featured among a few others on this list in the latest season of the Netflix series Taco Chronicles." - Brenda Storch
"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
"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, nick allen
