Tacotlan

"Run by father-and-daughter duo Everardo Macías and Jessica Perjes, this taquería is a haven for birria lovers who will find a variety — tacos, ramen, grilled cheese, and even pizza (bizza).  But it’s the quesabirrias that are a crowd favorite, selling out quickly. These gooey, crunchy, flavor-packed treats are a celebration of culinary creativity. Whether you are swinging by for a single taco or a pound of birria, Tacotlán can accommodate. The eatery even offers an at-home kit for quesabirrias that will feed a group of six to eight. Beyond birria, Tacotlán serves a range of Mexican staples with creative twists. Jessica recommends sampling the Lalo menu, with various tacos featuring outer skirt steak, a tender and chewier cut than its famous counterpart." - Brenda Storch, Serena Maria Daniels

"For many family restaurants, serving the same unchanged things works brilliantly; for others, those traditions spark new and delightful surprises. Tacotlan, a father-daughter collaboration, took the father’s experience and recipes from prior restaurants along with some additions (e.g. quesabirria, following the trend), giving them new life at the right time. With plenty of collaborations and delicious food, Tacotlan is a case study of how the best traditions are often the ones you create for yourself — and we’ll gladly eat them." - Alex Jewell

"Tacotlan in Hermosa was one of the first restaurants to introduce quesabirria to Chicago, and the proof is in the delicious taco. Theirs oozes chihuahua cheese, and if the tacos weren’t great enough, the side of consomé could be a dish by itself. You can get individual tacos for $4.75, or an order of three for $16.25." - adrian kane, john ringor

"For his second Chicago stop, Lee and his family headed to Tacotlán, a well-known haven for birria lovers in the Hermosa neighborhood. In a review posted Wednesday, July 24, Lee acknowledges that the restaurant isn’t exactly a hidden gem, but says he was drawn by claims that it serves the best quesabirria in town. He spent $22.25 on three quesabirria tacos with extra rice, no beans, and a styrofoam coffee cup of consomme. As Lee chows down, a booming sound effect rapidly clues viewers in on his reaction: “Good night,” he deadpans. Both Lee and wife Ronni bestow the juicy tacos with a 9 out of 10 rating." - Naomi Waxman

"Tacotlan in Hermosa really does birria, and they have a whole separate menu to prove it. That menu includes birria ramen, and even bizza (birria pizza), but we only have eyes for the quesabirria. This one of the first restaurants to introduce quesabirria to Chicago, and the proof is in the delicious taco. Theirs oozes chihuahua cheese, and if the tacos weren’t great enough, the side of consomé could be a dish by itself. You can get individual tacos for $4.25, or an order of three for $13.50. We'll be back for the ramen. And the bizza." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, jessica rome