Carnitas El Paisa

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  Home made tortillas!
  Home made salsa!
  Home made refried beans!
  
  This is not anything like all the cookie cutter tacos joints in Chicago.  A taco with home made tortillas will cost you three bucks, but two of these are more than equal to three standard Chicago tacos.  The woman who runs the place is warm and wonderful.  Be prepared for some lost in translation surprises.

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  Posted on 11.25.12 Rick L.

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  Ok, o have tried this place based on reviews, and let me tell you that I was concerned about 2 reviews 1 was that it was pricey and 2 that it was dirty and so many other things. But let me tell you I tried it and everyone else was right on the money about how great this place is!!! First of all I really loved to be treated like a king by such a wonderful lady, 2 I actually design and build restaurants and let me tell you I've seen it all, and this is by far, the cleanest place I have gone to, 3 the food is absolutely amazing!!! Carnitas are tender, packed with a lot of flavor but still crispy on the outside, tortillas are hand made and taste just like the ones made in little towns of Mexico, the Guacamole was fresh with a bit of lime juice and seasoned just right. I asked for coffee and was told that they did not have any but that she would make some fresh, and let me tell you she came back with a special treat a "Cafe de Olla" basically coffee made in a clay pot, with molasses and a touch of cinnamon. After this great experience the lady tried to explain what my bill was and what I was paying for, and I appreciated, but when you are treated in such great way and are served with such great food the last you worry about, is to get Taco Bell prices!!!!
  I will bring my whole family again to this little piece of Mexican Heaven in Illinois!!!

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  Posted on 07.04.12 Al F.

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  I really really want to love this place because the owner is so friendly and reminds me of my grandma but the food keeps disappointing me. Other than the licuados (which I love but only like if it's fresa because one time mami made me a nectarine one and it tasted like milk with some sour flavor added. I blame the unripe nectarine but still...cmon) and the pozole (which was pretty good) I have not had very good luck with this place. Had an al pastor burrito and it had this disgusting paper aftertaste. Torta was so soggy I just spit it out.
  If you're looking for a place to buy delicious roasted pork by the pound, come here. Otherwise, look elsewhere for your typical Mexican fare.

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  Posted on 06.25.12 Joan L.

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  I moved to Logan Square a couple months back.  Some friends and I decided to go for a walk down Fullerton.  We spied this place walking down the block and were seriously hungry.  Walking in, it was a quiet place.  This sweet lady came by our table and sat us all down like she was welcoming us into her home.  We all order burritos and wait.  First thing we start talking about is how our eyes keep finding hand carved items all over the establishment with the name "El Paisa" in them.  
  BAM, chips came to the table and they were still HOT and oily from the fryer!  AMAZING!  Just salted enough, crispy, just PERFECT.   The salsa on the table was freshly prepared.  Nothing seemed like it came out of a bag or can.  All ingredients were fresh, hot, and crisp.
  Burritos came, they were huge!   Every burrito was filled to the brim with ingredients.  The lady that came by and each tapped us on the back and made sure we were very pleased with the cuisine.  Again that motherly touch.  
  
  My friends and I each had a bottle of Mexico coke, and a burrito.  Meal came out to be just over $30 bux.  I say money well spent for all of us.  
  
  This is seriously a hidden diamond on the North West side.  
  When you want a true south of the border experience, go and see momma down at El Paisa.  She'll make sure you leave waddling out.  Very pleased!
  
  On a side note, I would highly suggest watching your back when visiting at night.  The 'hood' is a tad rough after dark but since it's off of Fullerton, it's generally safe.

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  Posted on 03.26.12 Psyko M.

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  I don't know why this place has four stars.  Because it does, I gave it a chance for lunch.  I walked in at noon to a deserted restaurant, which should have been a hint.  There was a very odd, heavy, greasy smell in the air.  But I sat down because it has 4 stars after all.  I was waited on and I ordered 2 pastor and 2 carnitas tacos.  While I was waiting I was given a basket of chips that were absolutely dripping with grease and salsa that was at one point probably made there fresh but now had that fizzy aftertaste and pale, grayish appearance that lets you know that it is long past its prime. I will say this: the meat was tender and well-seasoned.  But there were two finger-sized pig bones in one of my tacos, which I bit into and then extracted from the taco.  As I finished off my third taco, a little cucarocha crawled out from the bottom of my plate.  The tacos were stuffed with meat, and I wondered how they could only charge 99c for each.  Well I found out when I paid that there were two sizes of tacos, and I was supposed to say "especial" when I ordered otherwise they would put in extra meat so that they would cost 2.75 each.  The menu does not explain this nor did the "99c Carnitas Tacos" sign on the door. Nor did my server, who spoke English, explain the taco sizes, or the secret taco password, although she did ask me if I wanted med or lg when I ordered my horchata (so, no secret password for the horchata). All dirtiness aside, the fact that any restaurant has this tricky pricing would warrant no return.  Anyhow, my lunch of just 4 tacos, no sides, and a medium horchata ended up costing, with tax $15. Afterwards, I had that unshakable sinking feeling one gets after being surprised with a parking ticket.  Next time I get a craving for carnitas, I'll just go to Pilsen. I give Carnitas El Paisa 3-6  months to survive unless they do the following ASAP: 1. Call an exterminator 2. Get some adequate ventilation. 3. Get rid of the pricing tricks 4. Buy your chips. 5. Take out the bones from the taco meat. 6. Buy or make fresh salsa daily 7. Scour this place from top to bottom, including the bathrooms.

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  Posted on 09.06.11 Jerry C.

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  So recently moving to Logan square I went out to discover the neighborhood and see what I find when I came across this little gem. I walked in and this lady who was just so motherly and cute greeted me! I told her I was hungry as hell, and she told me to take a seat, and she would take care of that! I instantly felt this warm feeling like being at my own mothers house. I made small talk with her and let her know I was new to the area and she said welcome to your new home being her restaurant! She invited me back to try her breakfast because she says it's to die for!
  Anyhow, being that I had absolutely no clue what I wanted I let her pick for me. She picked the carnitas platter. Before I get to to that though, when I was seated she brought me some chicharron with a spicy salsa that would make you want to slap your mama, and an ice cold tamarind jarritos. Let's just say I was in heaven at this point! My dinner came and it consisted of pork carnitas, beans and rice, and warm tortillas. She also brought me a mexican cheese that she made herself. It was #amazing.  My dinner was good- the meat was a little on the tough side though! I like mine to be a little more tender, but it was good none the less.  The beans and rice were good! The rice was seasoned very well.  I was a pig and had two more plates of chicharron, and the lady (the owner) told me to eat all I wanted!   The only downfall I had with this place is no dessert was available. There was some listed on the menu, but I was told that they usually throw it away. I really wanted a good flan. That would have been the perfect finale. El Paisa has definitely won me over and you better believe I will be back for breakfast.  That's the kind of service that makes you come back. Until next time........

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  Posted on 04.29.11 Ramone B.

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  I just had the most adorable dining experience ever. The sweetest lady in the world just served me some of the best pozole that i have ever had. The food soo tasty, the chicharron was so fresh that they melted in my mouth. I am almost heartbroken that I will be moving from the area here in a couple of months, but will make it a point to come back up to Logan Square to have lunch at El Paisa, and Senora, you can call me "papacito" anytime!! :)

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  Posted on 03.29.10 Kevin J.

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  This is easily the best place in the Logan Square/Humboldt region for carnitas (braised, roasted and/or fried pork), Chicharrón (deep fried pork rinds) and flautas either by the dish or for take out by weight. A pound of two of carnitas with tortillas, fresh onions, cilantro and salsa is a great item at a pot luck dinner or if you're having friends over for booze and snacks. This is definitely not a place for vegetarians as almost everything involves carnitas or is fried in fat. If you want something a bit leaner they do have other standard dishes like tortas and tacos but the decadent deep fried meat is main event. If you've ever been wanting to try menudo they have a great red chile menudo with all the fixings. Skip the standard tortillas and get the hand-made ones. For the very adventurous they also have incredibly delicious ceso (cattle brain) tacos. I loved them till someone told me what they were made of.

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  Posted on 01.18.09 Raphael D.

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