We went here twice in 1 week - yes, 5 stars! New favorite place in pilsen to satisfy our taco cravings. It's not easy to find fish tacos in pilsen, but they serve it here and it is DELICIOUS. Free chips with yummy and addicting avocado dip and salsa. Yummmmy guacamole and coffee. Asada tacos and huevos rancheros were top notch too! Senora Mercedes was always very gracious and friendly, and they take credit card payments too which is a plus in small taquerias in this area.
(5)
Karen N.
It is good mom and pop neighborhood place, the owner (wife) greets you and takes good care of you. Mixed Pilsen crowd. young and old, with people stopping in for takeout. We had tacos, shrimp diablo, soup and guacamole. All decent food but not especially amazing. If you want a simple taqueria in this area, do go. I like giving business to small establishments like this. Cash only.
(3)
Anthony M.
This is the best taqueria in Chicago. My roommate and I have tried several taqueria in Chicago in the sole quest of finding the best cheap tacos. We have tried so many places, all around Pilsen in particular. Up to this point, nothing had come close to our favorite places back home (I'm from SF and he is from Oklahoma). Not any more. Two weeks before we both relocate out of Chicago we have found it. Tacos that are cheap, amazing and just as good as our favorite places back home. My roommate had the seasoned pork tacos. I had the chicken burrito. Both were excellent. The chips were also solid, although once we were given extra chips that were freshly made they went from good to great. This is a traditional hole-in-the-wall family run taqueria. In other words, the best way to enjoy Mexican food. It is small and dated. But the food overcomes any bad things that you could say about the ambience.
(5)
Rachel C.
I got three tacos: fish, pastor, and asada. Each one was fantastic and as flavorful as it gets. I was never a fan of the corn tortilla until now. These were perfect chewy and had flavor with just enough salt. The five stars comes from the sauce though. The red salsa with just enough kick and the creamy jalapeno sauce that I ended up drinking with a spoon.
(5)
Sara M.
AMAZING FRESH FOOD! Try the Chilaquiles ( we always get green). Also- the coffee is so delicious, almost has a hint of cinnamon. The couple that owns it are so friendly and will make your experience special just because they try hard to please all their customers. Nice little corner spot - you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Maria C.
They make fresh tortillas for their tacos and they are delicious! Definitely gonna try everything they have on their menu as soon as possible.
(5)
Brianne M.
You can't turn this place down for the following reasons: Wonderful food, for a great price. SO affordable. HOME MADE quality!! AWESOME, kind and loving people work here. Locally owned. They are open to your requests, which is always helpful if you have any kind of dietary restrictions. I'm vegan and they always help me out with a smile. There are people who work near by who visit this place almost daily, so what does that say?
(5)
Jeffrey C.
In terms of straight-up taco-flavored kisses, Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon is the closest proxy to my Houston taco trucks. Like much else in the Pilsen, it's a no-frills, great-grills hole in the wall place that serves Mexican delights on the cheap. It quickly became a favorite of my wife's and our Texan friends, and while it's not Tex-Mex, it's about as close to Texian as we've found round these parts. Give it a whirl. Bring cash. Get tacos.
(4)
Silu M.
Just wow. Looks like a 'hole in the wall' but wow is the food ever amazing. We had tacos and burritos. Couldn't even finish. So much and so good!
(5)
Abby C.
It's a small place. Not fancy but its great food for a great price! I always have chicken and or steak tacos. Everything is fresh and made to order. I would definitely recommend if you want great no-fuss authentic Mexican food.
(5)
Daniel H.
Unreal food, especially their tacos. I'm convinced they can't be beat, both with their quality of good and prices. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
addy t.
"THEY REUSE HALF EATEN FOOD!!!!!""" Omg!!! I came here to because I love supporting local mom and pop joints. As I'm waiting for my Togo order, the owner is literally taking all the salsa left behind from the tables that just left and pouring them into Togo sauce containers ( I just asked for extra sauce). I have never in my life seen such a blatant act of moral depravity. People put their saliva into these dips. EWwwweeeee. I'm asian, I'm aware of the shady, corner cutting that goes into boosting the bottom line of small businesses, but this is just plain wrong. Wow... I am still in shock. If they are doing this in front of you, imagine what they're doing to your food when you're not looking. WOW........ Ps... I'm pretty sure this isn't a practice they started just today. So for you yelpers who touted their food to be amazing. Did you get Togo sauce or salsa with your order?? Guess what, someone was probably eating that same sauce 5 minutes ago. Grossssssss
(1)
Mando B.
A pleasant, small, family-run restaurant. I was intrigued by the overwhelmingly positive reviews, and althought food was good, it wasn't 5-star quality. I got the taco dinner (3 tacos with rice & beans) and chips & guacamole. The corn tortillas were good and fresh, but the meat wasn't as flavorful or high-quality as I would expect given all the 5-star reviews. The pork and beef were rather bland, and surprisingly the chicken was the highlight for me. The green and red hot sauces were ok but not especially flavorful, and same goes for the guacamole. Actually, the rice and beans were somewhat bland too now that I think about it. All in all, a decent, inexpensive meal. But not 5-star-worthy.
(3)
Peter L.
The tacos I had were delicious, but not 5 star worthy. Tacos and prices were average for Pilsen (which is to say amazing tacos at great prices). This place is currently the highest rated in Pilsen and I have no idea why. I like atotonilco the best overall and don Pedro for carnitas. A huge plus is that it's across the street from a hotdog/gyro/beef place so if everyone in your group doesn't like tacos the next stop is across the street for lunch pick up.
(3)
andy s.
it's places like this that make pilsen so awesome. great mexican food that is really affordable, and it's a family run type of joint--so the food is fresh and home made. one of the best burritos i've ever had. if you dine in, they give you fresh chips and salsa and this other sauce that is amazing. for sure steak burrito is one of my favorite items on their menu.
(5)
Elise F.
Yum. Very good tacos. Price point is fantastic. I really enjoyed both salsas but the red was my favorite for sure. My boyfriend got the horchata and daaaaang was that good. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Adam R.
I cheated. After eating the green sauce at Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon, I became obsessed. I'd never tasted a sauce that was this delectable, flavorful, or delicious. It was like ambrosia sent down from the heavens. After the taco, I bought a big batch of it; partially to remember, but partially to copy. Then I did some research and found out that this style of sauce is popular at a lot of Tex-Mex places, and in Mexican places and then all over Latino cooking. I'll take their word for it, but I'd never had anything like this before. And I'm the kind of guy who will try a drop of every sauce before the food comes out just because I love trying new sauces. Whatever secrets they have are amazing. The chef and waitress kind of laugh it off as silly gringo being crazy, which to be fair, is true. But I can't implore you enough to come here for this sauce. Yes the tacos are very good. Yes the chips are homemade. But the sauce ties it all together and should be inside of you.
(5)
Sany N.
Other than the restaurant being a solid restaurant in terms of quality, deliciousness, service, and cleanliness.. I found out they are a family owned and operated business. Just the parents and their children. They only closing ONE day out of the whole month!! Their work ethics are highly commendable as I've eaten there for both lunch and dinner and have witnessed their children helping around immediately after coming out of school. I hope they stay open forever, this place is amazing!! They also now have an "educational special" which is either two tacos with rice and beans or a torta with a sode/pop for $5! Amazing deal!
(5)
Greg S.
Nobody's giving this place less than five stars, and there's a reason for that. This place is rock solid, good quality and beyond reasonable prices. Tell your friends, but only the ones who will appreciate home-cooked Mexican made by a family with no gimmicks.
(5)
L R.
I love the prices, the staff, and I used to love the food. I still like that there's a 15-min standing zone for your car right in front.
(2)
Christine H.
I finally have a favorite, vegan-friendly taco place in Pilsen! They don't use lard! They use vegetable oil with their refried beans. Some of the other popular places in Pilsen (*cough* Nuevo Leon *cough*) even use lard with their tortilla chips. So far, I have only had their veggie tacos, rice and beans to go. When you order, be sure to say "no cheese." Even though the menu says that cheese is extra, they automatically put it on the beans and tacos. They replaced my tacos for no charge when I brought them back. The woman at the register even said, "Oh, nothing from animals, right? No cheese or sour cream." I said, "Right, vegan. Nothing from animals." Apparently other vegans have been there before! The veggie tacos have beans, Mexican rice, shredded iceberg lettuce, minced onions, cilantro, fresh avocado and a slice of tomato in corn tortillas. The refried beans are thick! You can see bits of bean in them. Hooray for protein! Basic tacos, but satisfying and cheap, which is what I expect from a taqueria. My friend and I also got a small bag of crunchy, lightly salted tortilla chips and spicy red salsa for free. The taco dinner is $7 (three tacos, rice and beans). Individual tacos are a little under $2 each. My friend got the pastor, carne asada and fish tacos, and approved of all three. Note that I forgot to ask if the rice has any sort of chicken broth in it (sometimes Mexican and Spanish rice do), but when I was looking around for lard, I didn't see any sort of chicken broth on the shelves behind the counter. Also, personally, I have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with veggies being cooked on the same grill as meat. If I see it is, I don't eat it, but otherwise don't ask. Because the veggies are raw, no worry about veggie and meat cross-contamination. I don't know about the tortillas, though. The staff seem very accommodating there, however. If you're a vegan in Pilsen and looking for dinner with meat-eater friends, urge them to walk off the beaten Nuevo Leon path to Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon.
(4)
Isadora C.
First time here. Great little place that provides good authentic tacos and quesadillas. The horchata was amazing! Yummm...will definitely come again to try something else
(4)
Viet H.
Cute little hole in the wall. The guac and sauces are quite delectable. They put their heart into their food for such inexpensive prices. Give it a try!
(4)
Lisa B.
So good!! Very happy with my pastor and pollo tacos! The guacamole was all fresh ingredients and made to order (saw him chop it all up) -- not to mention only $4 for a very decent portion! The boy got the taco dinner (3 tacos, rice, and beans) and was very happy. When you eat in, they give you chips and salsas and the salsas are great --especially the creamy green one. Can't beat the prices, either! We will be back!
(5)
John R.
Best place for a steak burrito in Pilsen. Fresh hot chips. Very authentic feel. Any man developing a scheme to submit himself to the illusion that he is actually in Mexico will do well to incorporate a visit to this taqueria.
(5)
Giuliana M.
They currently have an amazing lunch special! 2 tacos with rice and beans for $5!! Along with the basket of chips an salsa that comes with every meal, you will be super full! The owners are super friendly and have great people skills! I spent my summer working in Pilsen, so I've been to most of the restaurants and this is by far my favorite!!!!
(5)
Carolyn E.
Their food is really good and they're so nice but I got a steak taco from them once and it looked a little weird and then I puked. food poisoning
(2)
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Address :2018 S Blue Island Ave
Chicago, IL, 60608
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Nicole B.
My fiancé and I were running errands in Pilsen and decided to grab lunch. We were actually on our way to a different Mexican restaurant and just happened to drive by this gem of a place. If I had a Mexican grandmother, this is how I imagine she would cook Mexican food. Everything we had was DELICIOUS, from the salsa and chips to the tacos. I rarely even take notice of the chips and salsa we usually get at other Mexican restaurants, but the free red and green salsas were noticeably delicious. The guacamole was fresh and you receive a generous portion. We ordered a cheese quesadilla, fish taco, el pastor taco, and chicken taco, all of which were super tasty. The fish taco included an entire filet of fish! In total, it cost only $15 with a diet soda! This place is truly a Pilsen treasure and we were tempted to return the same day for dinner. I am an adventurous eater and definitely will be coming back to try the beef tongue taco and fish soups. Definitely come here if you are looking for great tasting, homemade, authentic, and inexpensive Mexican food. I consider the food here to be superior to many of the larger, more popular Mexican restaurants in this neighborhood.
(5)Thea B.
We went here twice in 1 week - yes, 5 stars! New favorite place in pilsen to satisfy our taco cravings. It's not easy to find fish tacos in pilsen, but they serve it here and it is DELICIOUS. Free chips with yummy and addicting avocado dip and salsa. Yummmmy guacamole and coffee. Asada tacos and huevos rancheros were top notch too! Senora Mercedes was always very gracious and friendly, and they take credit card payments too which is a plus in small taquerias in this area.
(5)Karen N.
It is good mom and pop neighborhood place, the owner (wife) greets you and takes good care of you. Mixed Pilsen crowd. young and old, with people stopping in for takeout. We had tacos, shrimp diablo, soup and guacamole. All decent food but not especially amazing. If you want a simple taqueria in this area, do go. I like giving business to small establishments like this. Cash only.
(3)Anthony M.
This is the best taqueria in Chicago. My roommate and I have tried several taqueria in Chicago in the sole quest of finding the best cheap tacos. We have tried so many places, all around Pilsen in particular. Up to this point, nothing had come close to our favorite places back home (I'm from SF and he is from Oklahoma). Not any more. Two weeks before we both relocate out of Chicago we have found it. Tacos that are cheap, amazing and just as good as our favorite places back home. My roommate had the seasoned pork tacos. I had the chicken burrito. Both were excellent. The chips were also solid, although once we were given extra chips that were freshly made they went from good to great. This is a traditional hole-in-the-wall family run taqueria. In other words, the best way to enjoy Mexican food. It is small and dated. But the food overcomes any bad things that you could say about the ambience.
(5)Rachel C.
I got three tacos: fish, pastor, and asada. Each one was fantastic and as flavorful as it gets. I was never a fan of the corn tortilla until now. These were perfect chewy and had flavor with just enough salt. The five stars comes from the sauce though. The red salsa with just enough kick and the creamy jalapeno sauce that I ended up drinking with a spoon.
(5)Sara M.
AMAZING FRESH FOOD! Try the Chilaquiles ( we always get green). Also- the coffee is so delicious, almost has a hint of cinnamon. The couple that owns it are so friendly and will make your experience special just because they try hard to please all their customers. Nice little corner spot - you will not be disappointed.
(5)Maria C.
They make fresh tortillas for their tacos and they are delicious! Definitely gonna try everything they have on their menu as soon as possible.
(5)Brianne M.
You can't turn this place down for the following reasons: Wonderful food, for a great price. SO affordable. HOME MADE quality!! AWESOME, kind and loving people work here. Locally owned. They are open to your requests, which is always helpful if you have any kind of dietary restrictions. I'm vegan and they always help me out with a smile. There are people who work near by who visit this place almost daily, so what does that say?
(5)Jeffrey C.
In terms of straight-up taco-flavored kisses, Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon is the closest proxy to my Houston taco trucks. Like much else in the Pilsen, it's a no-frills, great-grills hole in the wall place that serves Mexican delights on the cheap. It quickly became a favorite of my wife's and our Texan friends, and while it's not Tex-Mex, it's about as close to Texian as we've found round these parts. Give it a whirl. Bring cash. Get tacos.
(4)Silu M.
Just wow. Looks like a 'hole in the wall' but wow is the food ever amazing. We had tacos and burritos. Couldn't even finish. So much and so good!
(5)Abby C.
It's a small place. Not fancy but its great food for a great price! I always have chicken and or steak tacos. Everything is fresh and made to order. I would definitely recommend if you want great no-fuss authentic Mexican food.
(5)Daniel H.
Unreal food, especially their tacos. I'm convinced they can't be beat, both with their quality of good and prices. I highly recommend this place!
(5)addy t.
"THEY REUSE HALF EATEN FOOD!!!!!""" Omg!!! I came here to because I love supporting local mom and pop joints. As I'm waiting for my Togo order, the owner is literally taking all the salsa left behind from the tables that just left and pouring them into Togo sauce containers ( I just asked for extra sauce). I have never in my life seen such a blatant act of moral depravity. People put their saliva into these dips. EWwwweeeee. I'm asian, I'm aware of the shady, corner cutting that goes into boosting the bottom line of small businesses, but this is just plain wrong. Wow... I am still in shock. If they are doing this in front of you, imagine what they're doing to your food when you're not looking. WOW........ Ps... I'm pretty sure this isn't a practice they started just today. So for you yelpers who touted their food to be amazing. Did you get Togo sauce or salsa with your order?? Guess what, someone was probably eating that same sauce 5 minutes ago. Grossssssss
(1)Mando B.
A pleasant, small, family-run restaurant. I was intrigued by the overwhelmingly positive reviews, and althought food was good, it wasn't 5-star quality. I got the taco dinner (3 tacos with rice & beans) and chips & guacamole. The corn tortillas were good and fresh, but the meat wasn't as flavorful or high-quality as I would expect given all the 5-star reviews. The pork and beef were rather bland, and surprisingly the chicken was the highlight for me. The green and red hot sauces were ok but not especially flavorful, and same goes for the guacamole. Actually, the rice and beans were somewhat bland too now that I think about it. All in all, a decent, inexpensive meal. But not 5-star-worthy.
(3)Peter L.
The tacos I had were delicious, but not 5 star worthy. Tacos and prices were average for Pilsen (which is to say amazing tacos at great prices). This place is currently the highest rated in Pilsen and I have no idea why. I like atotonilco the best overall and don Pedro for carnitas. A huge plus is that it's across the street from a hotdog/gyro/beef place so if everyone in your group doesn't like tacos the next stop is across the street for lunch pick up.
(3)andy s.
it's places like this that make pilsen so awesome. great mexican food that is really affordable, and it's a family run type of joint--so the food is fresh and home made. one of the best burritos i've ever had. if you dine in, they give you fresh chips and salsa and this other sauce that is amazing. for sure steak burrito is one of my favorite items on their menu.
(5)Elise F.
Yum. Very good tacos. Price point is fantastic. I really enjoyed both salsas but the red was my favorite for sure. My boyfriend got the horchata and daaaaang was that good. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Adam R.
I cheated. After eating the green sauce at Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon, I became obsessed. I'd never tasted a sauce that was this delectable, flavorful, or delicious. It was like ambrosia sent down from the heavens. After the taco, I bought a big batch of it; partially to remember, but partially to copy. Then I did some research and found out that this style of sauce is popular at a lot of Tex-Mex places, and in Mexican places and then all over Latino cooking. I'll take their word for it, but I'd never had anything like this before. And I'm the kind of guy who will try a drop of every sauce before the food comes out just because I love trying new sauces. Whatever secrets they have are amazing. The chef and waitress kind of laugh it off as silly gringo being crazy, which to be fair, is true. But I can't implore you enough to come here for this sauce. Yes the tacos are very good. Yes the chips are homemade. But the sauce ties it all together and should be inside of you.
(5)Sany N.
Other than the restaurant being a solid restaurant in terms of quality, deliciousness, service, and cleanliness.. I found out they are a family owned and operated business. Just the parents and their children. They only closing ONE day out of the whole month!! Their work ethics are highly commendable as I've eaten there for both lunch and dinner and have witnessed their children helping around immediately after coming out of school. I hope they stay open forever, this place is amazing!! They also now have an "educational special" which is either two tacos with rice and beans or a torta with a sode/pop for $5! Amazing deal!
(5)Greg S.
Nobody's giving this place less than five stars, and there's a reason for that. This place is rock solid, good quality and beyond reasonable prices. Tell your friends, but only the ones who will appreciate home-cooked Mexican made by a family with no gimmicks.
(5)L R.
I love the prices, the staff, and I used to love the food. I still like that there's a 15-min standing zone for your car right in front.
(2)Christine H.
I finally have a favorite, vegan-friendly taco place in Pilsen! They don't use lard! They use vegetable oil with their refried beans. Some of the other popular places in Pilsen (*cough* Nuevo Leon *cough*) even use lard with their tortilla chips. So far, I have only had their veggie tacos, rice and beans to go. When you order, be sure to say "no cheese." Even though the menu says that cheese is extra, they automatically put it on the beans and tacos. They replaced my tacos for no charge when I brought them back. The woman at the register even said, "Oh, nothing from animals, right? No cheese or sour cream." I said, "Right, vegan. Nothing from animals." Apparently other vegans have been there before! The veggie tacos have beans, Mexican rice, shredded iceberg lettuce, minced onions, cilantro, fresh avocado and a slice of tomato in corn tortillas. The refried beans are thick! You can see bits of bean in them. Hooray for protein! Basic tacos, but satisfying and cheap, which is what I expect from a taqueria. My friend and I also got a small bag of crunchy, lightly salted tortilla chips and spicy red salsa for free. The taco dinner is $7 (three tacos, rice and beans). Individual tacos are a little under $2 each. My friend got the pastor, carne asada and fish tacos, and approved of all three. Note that I forgot to ask if the rice has any sort of chicken broth in it (sometimes Mexican and Spanish rice do), but when I was looking around for lard, I didn't see any sort of chicken broth on the shelves behind the counter. Also, personally, I have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with veggies being cooked on the same grill as meat. If I see it is, I don't eat it, but otherwise don't ask. Because the veggies are raw, no worry about veggie and meat cross-contamination. I don't know about the tortillas, though. The staff seem very accommodating there, however. If you're a vegan in Pilsen and looking for dinner with meat-eater friends, urge them to walk off the beaten Nuevo Leon path to Taqueria Sabor Y Sazon.
(4)Isadora C.
First time here. Great little place that provides good authentic tacos and quesadillas. The horchata was amazing! Yummm...will definitely come again to try something else
(4)Viet H.
Cute little hole in the wall. The guac and sauces are quite delectable. They put their heart into their food for such inexpensive prices. Give it a try!
(4)Lisa B.
So good!! Very happy with my pastor and pollo tacos! The guacamole was all fresh ingredients and made to order (saw him chop it all up) -- not to mention only $4 for a very decent portion! The boy got the taco dinner (3 tacos, rice, and beans) and was very happy. When you eat in, they give you chips and salsas and the salsas are great --especially the creamy green one. Can't beat the prices, either! We will be back!
(5)John R.
Best place for a steak burrito in Pilsen. Fresh hot chips. Very authentic feel. Any man developing a scheme to submit himself to the illusion that he is actually in Mexico will do well to incorporate a visit to this taqueria.
(5)Giuliana M.
They currently have an amazing lunch special! 2 tacos with rice and beans for $5!! Along with the basket of chips an salsa that comes with every meal, you will be super full! The owners are super friendly and have great people skills! I spent my summer working in Pilsen, so I've been to most of the restaurants and this is by far my favorite!!!!
(5)Carolyn E.
Their food is really good and they're so nice but I got a steak taco from them once and it looked a little weird and then I puked. food poisoning
(2)