Taqueria La Zacatecana

This place makes the best al pastor quesadillas I’ve ever had! The perfectly seasoned, juicy pork pairs so well with the melty cheese, and the corn tortillas are grilled to perfection, achieving that beautiful crispiness that takes it to the next level. Each bite is a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Whether you’re a taco lover or just want a satisfying meal, this spot is a must-try!

Great place! My favorite dish was the tripas quesadilla. Besides that I also had the lengua (beef tongue) burrito, carne asada platillo, al pastor pork taco, and horchata drink. Carne asada and al pastor pork were well flavored, lengua is nice and soft and goes great with the red and green sauces at the table. Horchata is quite sweet but complemented the foods well.

I will go straight to the point tacos are really good, at least steak and Al pastor. However, call me weird or whatever but to me a good taco spot aside from the tacos and salsa has to have a good orchata and the orchata from here was straight trash! I'm talking about I got a cup of water with just a hint of rice and sugar. Again tacos were great but they have to up their game big time with the orchata.

Forget everything you know about tacos and try them here! Wow, such a great food!! I had steak tacos and they were amazing. Some people complained about little meat - nonsense. It was not possible to hold my tacos without meat falling out. Very generous portion at a fair price. Quick and friendly service. I hope more people will discover this gem and support family business. I will definitely be back!

Just recently moved to the neighborhood and couldn’t go to my favorite taco restaurant. I was searching for a taco spot with charbroiled meat steak especially. I read the reviews and decided to take a shot at it, oh boy hands down now my FAVORITE taco restaurant now. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Thank me later ❤️

Red salsa was fire. Carne asada was good as it had that char-broiled flavor. Pastor was ok. I had really high expectations for this place. It was not bad but not worth the long drive. Service was bad since nobody came to ask of o wanted anything else. The guy who made my tacos kept coughing. I know people get sick but you can’t have that when you’re in charge of making food.

The place is a bit under-furnished and looks a little rough around the edges but the food is pretty good. Our waiter who was wonderfully sweet recommended we try the asada tacos, they were the best ones out of what we tried. We also had the al pastor and lengua tacos. I liked the al pastor but found lengua a little bland. Both red and the green salsas are on the spicier side so approach with caution. Overall not bad of an experience.

Fresh made tortillas here will make you reconsider how you judge other tacos. Carne and Pastor were top notch. Staff was extremely friendly and knows about all the other "hip" places that the northside influencers pump up.. forget what you heard, this spot is fire.

Best freakin' tacos in Chicago I promise. Have had carne asada, chile rellenos and al pastor. Service is great and helpful. Place is pretty bare inside (which is fine, we're here for the tacos) so we usually just take the food home, pull out the bed table and black out, demolishing these amazing tacos and watching our favorite shows

I was weary because when I received my food the chicken had the color of salmon however considering the price I thought I was a very decent taco. Nice size, good balanced flavor & quick turnaround attributed to my opinion. It's quite a trek to travel here solely for a single taco & I doubt I'd do it again because nothing was spectacular & tbh that's what I'm seeking but overall you could do a lot worse.

Food was really good. Had 2 steak and 1 El Pastor tacos with beans and rice. Had that great grilled taste. I would have gave it 5 starts but I Feel the price was high. Spent $23 dollars without a drink and I was not full.

My man Fox Peña is on a taco tour of Chicago and this spot just happens to be around the corner, so let's just say I've been INFLUENCED!!! You almost can't tell if this place is open when to walk it. The lighting is a little dim. There is a real simple set up inside with dated interior and old school Chicago feel of a place that you know churns out delicious eats. You order from a guy at the counter. Make sure you can speak a little Spanish or use that google translate app. We ordered asada tacos, Al pastor tacos , a lengua taco , an asada quesadilla, and rice and beans. Our order ended up missing the rice and beans. The asada was absolutely fire!! Seasoned so well and cooked to perfection. The pastor was good and I'd probably pass on the lengua next time. It just lacked the flavor that the other meats had. Overall this place was pretty good and since it's around the corner, I'd come back.

If you're a taco enthusiast this is much go to place!! The portion sizes are very reasonable compared to other restaurants

We came here to eat some tacos. When we first arrived, it looked the the place was closed. They should make the place look more inviting from the outside. Let people know to come on in. I almost drove away. The lady that took our order was very welcoming, took our order and advised us to pay after we were done eating. The prices seemed high at first, but they use big regular sized corn tortillas. Most taco shops will charge high and while using smaller tortillas. You at least get your moneys worth in meat here. I ordered their al pastor, carne Asada and lengua taco. The al pastor was ok. It tasted a little bland, but the carne Asada was seasoned and cooked perfectly and the lengua taco definitely hit the spot. The lengua was very tender. Overall I was very satisfied. I got full with the three tacos, and will definitely consider returning.

Only had time to try a couple things but loved them. Casual vibe. Got our food to go within 5 minutes. Cheese quesadilla - 4.5/5. Small in size, but good value. Grilled corn tortilla with lots of cheese. Chicken taco - 5/5. Chicken is the star of our dish. Our 1 year old couldn't get enough of it. Nice pairing with cilantro and raw onion.

The best vegetarian burrito I've had in Chicago. Coming from California/Bay Area I'm very passionate about a good taqueria style burrito. Veggie burritos that are well made are hard to come by but La Zacatecana makes it so well. I didn't feel gross after eating it so that was great! The size of the burrito is massive but taste and quality were high level! Cant wait to order the vegetarian burrito again and again!

I've ordered the steak burritos from here a couple times and it has been delicious. Generous on the deliciously marinated meat. Customer service: friendly staff and the wait isn't too long. Cost: the cost is a little bit on the higher end but the burrito is huge. Chicken burrito ($13.99): it was good but not as flavorful as the steak burrito. If you can eat other meats, I'd recommend the steak burrito. Steak burrito ($13.99): The steak is marinated well so the meat alone is tasty. The ingredients in the burrito complement each other well. They use munster cheese so it is a little less greasy which is nice. I'll be back for my burrito fix if I'm in the area.

Best Carne Asada Burrito & Carne Asada Tacos in Chicago! Yep, I said it! They are always fresh and no fatty meat inside. I can't speak to anything else on the menu... But the staff is usually pretty friendly, the price is right, and the salsas are flavorful and delicious. They recently did some renovations inside which is cool, and during the week it's not crazy busy. Just try it out for yourself, certain you won't be disappointed!

Quick tacos and more with reasonable prices! We've only done takeout and usually order when we don't feel like cooking. Personally recommend steak tacos and chile relleno dishes.

Still the best steak tacos I've had in the city, and while the al pastor is a little more hit-or-miss, it's great. Zacatecana now accepts credit card (which is awesome), and on Tuesdays you can get their tacos with handmade tortillas ("tortillas hechas a mano" if you're ordering in Spanish) for a little upcharge. Very much worth it, still absolutely one of the top spots for tacos on the North Side, and a great choice if you're trying to figure out food to bring to, say, Revolution Brewing's taproom on Kedzie.

Best carne asada in chicago by far thank you for not changing and falling off like so many other taco places that buy cheap steak !

Got a steak burrito, paid $17 dollars! when the worker told me the price i tought she was kidding! they have competition not even a block away where you pay $10 dollars for a bigger same quality burrito! i'm surprised they are still in business, some places need a reality check.

Really good steak for tacos and burritos. The service is phenomenal. The salsa is very hot but flavorful. This is a definite go to spot for tacos and burritos.

Way overpriced and definitely not worth it at all. Restaurants like to use the excuse of inflation as a reason for their prices but all they're doing is price gauging and taking advantage of the neighborhood they are in. Won't be going back for repeat business. If you like to throw money away then is the pace for you.

My favorite taco spot by far! I come here frequently since it's not a far walk from my apartment. Friendly staff, delicious food. I tell everyone I know to try it! The steak tacos are my favorite but I love the burrito as well. Every time it's a hit!

So far this is at the top of my list for traditional Mexican food. I've been here 3 times in 5 days and tried something different every time. By far the best flavor. Dont forget the sauces in the ketchup and Mayo bottles! Enjoy!!! B-ry

I'm from Milwaukee and happened to find this place while I was in Chicago and now I will be driving an hour away for tacos! Milwaukee tacos don't even compare and I've been here for over 2 years trying different restaurants! The meat was nicely seasoned and hit different. No one's rude they're just straight to the point.

Amazing steak tacos. Loved the green salsa. And awesome service. Hit the spot. Will be back!

This little place makes great and flavorful food! The people behind the counter friendly and attentive. Sitting down at a table can be tricky. But I find the food here too good to worry about that.

If I can give place a 0 star I happily do it! Me and my partner Walked in and we weren't even acknowledged. The environment was dull as well as negative due to the chief being extremely rude. The food is not worth the price at all ! They're over charging you because they know you have the money to spend smh your best bet is to make the food in the comfort of your home. Unless you are ok with a restaurant like Taqueria La Zacatecas taking advantage of you or your loved ones.

Pretty decent food but idk why it's so pricey.. tacos are $5 with tax. Tortas around $13 and burritos like $16 with tax.

*** CASH ONLY *** Menu is short and sweet, the tacos are full of flavour. We stopped in after finding that the wait for a table at Metropolitan Brewing was 45 minutes, with a not quite 2yo in tow we had to find an alternative. Look at Yelp and decided to ride the few blocks to check it out. Classic onion cilantro and meat (asada and pastor) is all they need to make a good impression. Will certainly stop by before/after hitting up MB. *** CASH ONLY ***

By far, the best tacos I've had in Chicago. Very, very close to Zacatacos, but I prefer this place shells.

Hands down, one of the best chili relleno burritos I've ever had and we just moved from San Diego...tasted just like my grandma cooked it

THE BEST carne asada I've ever had, and I'm from California where there is generally far better Mexican food than Chicago.

Great place for a quick bite! I've never sat in, but there is a counter space as well as some tables in the back. The interior is very no-frills no-thrills. They make stuff super quick and the prices are great. As for the food, I truly wish it blew me away. Let me say this: for Chicago, it is average Mexican fare. Nationwide: above average. Unfortunately I just have to base my ratings on the food I used to get at my local food truck when I lived in Seattle. The taste was out of this world. Nothing in the States has matched that place so far.

Super tasty carne asada plate. My company said the burrito was great as well as both the red and green salsas. This is a no frills type of place inside so don't expect nice decor but for a sit down eatery on the go it was perfect.

A friend tipped me onto this place, as with the bland exterior and generic appearance, I'd never have stopped in otherwise. BUT, I'm so glad I did! The menu is simple, the layout is no-frills, but everything is delicious. I've tried a variety of their tacos and they're all delicious. The carne asada and chile rellano specifically have me coming back again and again. Treat yourself to a horchata, jarritos or Mexican Coke - you deserve it. Cash only, my friends!

Fresh tortillas are on point. The carne asada tacos were delicious. Great cut and flavor.

I love this place. I've had their steak burrito several times over the past few months and they constantly provide one of the tastiest burritos I have ever had. And their salsa has a great level of heat and flavor. The staff are amazingly quick and efficient. I'm usually in and out of there within a couple minutes. Definitely recommend you try this place.

This hidden gem has the best steak tacos I've tasted in the city. They also have plates that are served with rice and beans. Now its not that cheap but its totally worth it. I'd also like to add that their green salsa is my favorite because its flavorful more than spicy but sometimes its really spicy. The service is great, they take your order right as you come in so you can get your food started before you even sit down! The also do tortillas by hand on Tuesdays just to give the customer more of an authentic experience for their palate. Their beverage options are great but they also have fresh horchata available. I highly recommend visiting if your craving tacos. Now accepting credit/debit cards!

Food is delicious. The meat and seafood are well flavored. The portion sizes are plentiful. The interior is well decorated with a bar and lots of televisions. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I will definitely be back to try more food and beverage items in the near future.

My GAAAAAAWD these tacos are f$&cking GOOOOOOOOOD. Steak is seasoned to perfection and fast take out

The al pastor and carne asada are really good. The salsas are amazing and super spicy. The horchata is wayy too sweet tho. Cash only

I got a chicken burrito. Was disappointed. Huge, coldish tortilla... diced chicken inside. Diced as in, was this previously frozen? Very little cheese, beans, lettuce, crema or anything else I could detect besides the chicken. It was fine but nothing great. $10 meh burrito.

Cash only little hole on the wall family owmed with the best burritos and salsa verde ever

Best lengua burrito ever! I always order lengua whenever it's on the menu because when it's done right, the meat is juicy and tender. And this place didn't disappoint. The restaurant is a non-descript corner storefront - don't let the simple set-up deter you. The menu is straightforward with standard Mexican options. All of us got burritos and we were all very happy. I look forward to coming here again when I'm in the area

Tripa (tripe) tacos were horribly cooked, meat was incredibly hard kinda like they cooked it a few days before and served it like that. 18$ for 3 tacos was definitely not worth it. First and also last time I will buy from here.

Great tacos and the Smokey taste is unbelievable! Super fresh and yummy! Definitely returning again and again

Bad bad bad food no good tacos The chef pulls taco meat out of container and serve to customer without freshly cooking no TOMATOES food is nasty was good ten years ago poor failure only accepts cash because want to had taxes from IRS

My favorite tacos joint in the north side. They specialize in carne asada tacos but make everything else that's a staple of Taco Joint. It's nothing flashy, blink-and-you-miss-it kind of place with a staff that been around since forever. Don't expect fine dining - this is a working man's lunch spot, eat and go kind of place but that's what makes this place awesome. It's great tasting/quality food from a great staff at reasonable prices. Couldn't recommended more.

Your neighborhood taqueria. The menu is in spanish but even I could figure out what I wanted; it isn't an intimidating place because everyone there is so friendly. You can eat there at the counter or at a booth and watch soccer on the TV or brown bag it. I was successful ordering in english so that's always a plan B. The food was good! I had a burrito but next time I think I'll get some taco's. The only reason is the burrito was easily as big as my head. The meat was delicious. They also have a good selection of Jarritos, unfortunately that day they were out of tamarindo which is my favorite. If you are in the neighborhood and looking for a no frills quick lunch, I recommend it.

Best asada tacos you will find in town... fast and great service!! Been coming here for over 10 years and I highly recommend this place!!

Easily one of the best places in Chicago to get a taco. Their carne asada I amazing, great flavor. They do not take cards, cash only which is a bummer BUT I can't say enough good things about their tacos.

So I was pretty surprised that the menu here was all in Spanish since I have zero Spanish under my belt. Luckily the menu is fairly concise and small (and that I could read tacos, burritos, and quesadillas). I got the Chile Relleno soft tacos and although I'm not much of a fan of the soft taco shell on the outside, I loved the inside. The heat from the green pepper plus the cheesiness gave everything a great smoky flavor. I also got the Con Carne Quesadillas which was pretty good. I liked how the meat was your no-nonsense, very authentic small cuts. There were two different sauces at the table (in ketchup and mustard bottles). Neither were particularly strong in flavor but I liked whatever was in the ketchup bottle better. Pick up a horchata drink with your order as well - it's very refreshing with the food and a small size will be enough. I had somewhat of a problem with the fact that they didn't have chicken at past 11am. I'm not sure whether they just didn't have it or they hadn't cooked it yet, but either way, it's lunchtime and there should be chicken! Also I wish everything was just a tad bigger because those $2.75 tacos can add up quickly. I could easily spend more than $10 if I was just a little bit more hungry which kind of negates the cheap factor!

Still have the best steak tacos in town. Nothing's changed, no thrills or frills, just good food.

The food here is so much better than a lot of the typical taco/burrito places. Prices are very affordable too. Service was quick. Only thing to be aware of it that it's CASH only, so plan ahead for that!