18
Sep
Battle Taco!
I didn’t have much of a plan for eating in Chicago, other than Hot Doug’s. But Anna told me about this fancy, amazing taco place called De Cero, so Adam, Emily and I went there after Adam finished the Chicago Half Marathon.
The menu:
ahi tuna, grilled medium rare, mango and habanero salsa 4.75
chipotle chicken, with mashed pinto beans, cilantro, and crema 4.75
vegetarian black beans, with garlic, avocado, cilantro, and crema 3.65
avocado, with white onion, roasted garlic, cilantro, and crema 3.15
chicken mole, with cilantro, and crema 4.75
rajas hot and mild roasted peppers, potatoes, cream, and cotija queso 3.5
tres queso, with roasted poblano pepper 3.15
skirt steak, medium rare, potatoes, onion, cilantro, lime, and chipotle mayo 4.75
battered shrimp, with cilantro, and avocado crema 4.25
chorizo spicy pork sausage, black beans, cilantro, and crema 4.45
tomatillo pork, with white onion, cilantro and lime 4.45
braised duck, with sweet corn salsa 4.45
battered catfish, with mexican slaw and chipotle mayo 4.25
sauteed salmon, with cilantro pesto and tomatos 4.75
beef tenderloin tips, braised with mushrooms, tomatoes, and cilantro 4.45
al pastor, tender chile seared pork with onion, pineapple, cilantro and lime 4.45
Wow, right? We ordered about a dozen tacos between us—duck, al pastor, chicken mole, salmon, beef tenderloin tips, and who knows what else. We also had a round of drinks.
Some of them were amazing, some were just okay. For me, the battered catfish was perfect, while the beef tenderloin tips were good, but not as flavorful as you’d think. Everyone was happy, we ate mass quantities, and we left to hit the Art Institute in a bit of a warm, comfy daze.
The next day, after working for the morning at Adam and Emily’s I started my walk to the Logan Square blue line stop. I walked into a taqueria I had been eyeing for the last couple of days. It was one of those ubiquitous places you see in Hispanic neighborhoods in cities all over the country: the signs and menus are in Spanish and English, lots of things are hand-written, and the food is almost universally the same.
I spent less than ten bucks on a plate of chicken tacos, rice and beans, which came with a squirt bottle of salsa verde. And I have to say that the meal was at least as satisfying, if not moreso, than the more upscale version from De Cero. Sure, there was no braised duck or grilled salmon, but, well, that’s kind of the point.
I can’t really pick sides here. It depends on what you think great food is. They were both great, but after the prices and one or two disappointing combos at De Cero, I have to say that the corner taqueria was a real pleasure. It’s simple, satisfying, and cheap. And sometimes that’s what really hits the spot.
