La Cocina

I don't mind a bit of "atmosphere", but this place made me feel like I was REALLY down on my luck.... think Rick Moranis, kicking a can down the street outside and singing "Skid Row".  Service was downright surly, the gal who was apparently SUPPOSED to be running the register was too busy filling out her "1040-EZ" to be bothered, and the cook who actually ended up taking my $$ was none too sure of himself ($15 for a burrito and chips seemed a bit steep, but I was so over the place by then I would've left sans any food at all).  And I should have, because the burrito (though HUGE) had no taste at all, and the chips were ultra-greasy.  Back to Burrito Beach for me, I can't even imagine why I thought this dump might be worth a try!

Good, cheap Mexican food in the Loop; there's really nothing to complain about here! Plenty of seating upstairs (where you get a lovely view of the federal slammer), and a banquet area downstairs. Not much to say in the way of interior aesthetics, but the food is authentic, and that's what counts.

The outside of the place looks a bit shady.  It's right across from a detention center and the Chicago board of trade.  Since I work near the board of trade, I went there and got 2 steak tacos.  The order taker was fairly normal, yet I detected a little bit of attitude.  Not to worry, I ordered TO GO.  After I ordered, I asked for some pico de gallo.  The cashier told me that they don't give pico de gallo to small orders.  At that point, I was going to tell her that I don't eat my tacos without pico de gallo and got my money back.  However, she and the restaurant wasn't worth the effort.  Probably not worth the effort of writing this yelp.  At least there weren't rats running around for sure...however, you only eat here if there is nothing else.  The meat on the steak tacos looked faded brown and didn't have much taste...and with tacos, the meat is everything.