This was a really cool place. Loved the location, the decor and the service. The whole vibe was great and, of course, the food! Â We all ordered various tacos and they were really tasty. I also ordered a michelada (a beer meets a bloody mary) and it was really good too! Overall, a "hidden gem" (that I did not know about). Great to discover yet another tasty restaurant not too far from work!
Review Source:There are really NO places close to Rush to walk to and eat. So, I was excited to try La Lagartija!
Me and my coworker thought the lime aqua frescas were delightful!! ;-)
ME: 3 tacos ( Shrimp, Al pastor, fish)
coworker: La Gringa & shrimp taco
My Al pastor was on the dry side and I could not really connect with the flavor. (wouldn't get again) The shrimp taco was really good, Â there is a creamy sauce that they put on it that really complements it. I make better fish. My coworker thought the La Gringa was good and didn't expect the pineapple to really fit in the dish.
Customer Service was awesome! Our server saw that we were 1st timers and after we brought to her attention that we did not have chips she gave us some even though I do not think that offer chips with the salsa trio & pickled onions they set out when you get there. The manager also checked on our table to see if we were enjoying our experience.
Overall I would say this place is ok buuuut with many more items to try and great customer service, I will be back.
I'm torn. I really want to love it though.
Well, this is one of the few restaurants within walking distance of my office- the choices in the IMD are really sparse.
The first time I placed an order for pick up and ordered steak tacos with chips and guac. Delish! I'm not a fan of spending $15-$20 bucks for lunch on a regular day at work, but I was really craving tacos, and they did not disappoint- until I realized that there was no sour cream or guac included on my tacos- am I really this Americanized that I expect all of this on one small taco- you bet your taco-loving butt I am!
The second time was with my bf and still great (same order)- except that their foam cups are really off-putting and cheap. I remembered to order sour cream and guac on the side (each $1, which is atrocious) but at least they provide multiple sauces and plenty of limes.
Oh, the bathrooms were absolutely sickening.
Bottom line:
I might stop in from time to time during my lunch, but I really really want them to class it up a little- clean your bathrooms, change your cups, and stop charging an arm and a leg for extras!
They need to hire more people for better service!
Went here for a quick dinner on Fri night with friends. Well the quick dinner turned out to be a long one because of the service. I did feel bad that there is just one woman running the show without any help. Its clearly a home-owned business, but it looks like they do get quite a crowd. The food was good, as expected from any Mexican taqueria. Nothing jumped out at me... but I really enjoyed my grilled fish tacos. The fish was perfectly cooked and moist.
3 and a half stars... The food is great but they lose points only for service!
Me and a group of friends came here for dinner on a Friday night. The restaurant was very busy and there was just one waitress juggling many different things that I felt sorry for her immediately. There was a bus boy who was also a cook that was clearing tables. My friend got a guava margarita that he really liked. It took a long time for the waitress to take the orders. We got to try the guac n 3 different types of salsa with chips, the rajas de poblano, portabello, shrimp, chorizo and grilled fish taco, vegetarian alambre and queso fundido with poblano. No complaints here, everything tasted great. The weird thing however was, them closing the place down at 9pm. Just hoping the owners read it and hire another person to help out because the food is definitely worth going back to.
What a sneaky little diamond in the rough this was. Went with a client here once (his recommendation) for a lunch meeting and man was it tasty. Â When I bit in to the first taco, it was like a surprise party for my taste buds. Or I guess technically my taste buds would be throwing a surprise party for the taco. Â Which, if you think about it, is a pretty awesome mental picture.
I went right for the steak tacos and, for such an ordinary Mexican favorite, was surprised at how tasteful the meat was. They also hook you up with a plethora of sauces and plenty of limes to give you that perfect mix of citrus zest and spice. Â My client went for the shrimp tacos and they smelled equally delightful (I could only smell for I felt it too socially and professionally inappropriate to reach over and taste it for myself...call me old-fashioned.)
For such a tiny place in such an odd area of Chicago, this place fills a necessary need for the good people of whatever neighborhood this is in. Â I would definitely return and would most likely order the same thing. Because that's how I roll.
I'm quite surprised this place has such good reviews. Â There was nothing particularly wrong with the place but nothing great either. Â I'm a bit surprised more people do not comment on the space. Â It's a fast food spot, no decor at all. Â My sister and I were put off a bit when we walked in. Â It was also empty even though there was an event at the United Center (hence our visit). Â The service was very bleh. Â They sat us and right away put the three salsas on our table but without any chips. Â We were confused. Â So she comes to take our drink order and they were out of the jalapeno margarita (one of my main motivators for going here) so that was annoying. Â So we asked then for some guac and only then did they bring chips. Â I do like the three different salsas, although the only one that I enjoyed was the spicy one but I guess that's the point of three options! Â The guac is extremely average. Â I don't know why everyone raves about it. Â I make better guac and have had better at plenty of Mexican restaurants. Â I also agree with many people that say the portion size is too small. Â It was only my sister and I but if there were more than two people that would not be enough. Â It's fine though, just not spectacular like the reviews led me to believe. Â I had to try the fish taco and I also got the el pastor. Â The shrimp taco was pretty solid but very difficult to eat. Â They're large fried shrimp and the taco is a small tortilla. Â They sorta just fall out. Â I would also like a little more flavor other than the shrimp. Â The el pastor was pretty disappointing. Â This isn't the el pastor you'll get at Maxwell Street market. Â It's dry and sort of bland. Â What made it less inviting was the lack of any sort of sauce to bring the taco together. Â My sister got the queso fundito thing where they bring you tortillas and you make your own quesadillas (she's a vegetarian). Â She said it was fine but nothing special. Â In a nutshell, if you're by the UC for an event, this place is fine but don't expect anything to blow you away.
Review Source:What a great find on Ashland! I didn't know we had such good Mexican food so close to Rush University!
It is a casual Mexican restuarant with great simple food and spicy sauces!
I love their quesadias! Don't underestimate the small dishes, they actually fill you up really fast. Â I ordered 3 little tacos and was only able to finish 2.
I will definitely be coming back for my Mexican fix!
A fan since opening day!
The first to use pickled onion as part of the trio add-on side dish for tacos.
My first place for Al Pastor.
Agua Frescas -- 3 selections that all sounded very good (pineapple, hibiscus, lime)
Special of the Day -- ask! Â A real off-menu dish. Â It's a taco and queso fondido place but I am having beef soup with veggies today.
Service is always pleasant and knowledgeable.
first & foremost, i'm vegan.
that being said, la lagartija taqueria is an awesome mexican spot. we love to order there for lunch at my office.
the first few times we ordered from la lagartija, i had the vegetarian alambres (with no cheese or sour cream) ... chopped red & green peppers, poblano chiles, onions, corn & tomatoes. home made corn tortillas on the side... with fresh salsa verde, smokey red salsa and guacamole.
i had never had alambres before, so i was a little nervous. but it is super super super delicious! basically like fajitas, but chopped up. these alambres in particular had that awesome fresh taste... and my meal was very light, perfect for lunch. they sent six (yes, six!!) home made corn tortillas on the side... i could have eaten them all. still warm from the oven! mmm.
their salsas were also particularly tasty... the smokey red salsa was perfectly smokey and the fresh salsa verde was perfectly fresh. mmm again.
they also have a mexican chopped salad, which can be prepared vegan and is equally amazing. i've been getting that the past several times we've ordered ... instead of the mango dressing, i ask for extra salsas. deliciosa.
I frequented this cute little establishment on a Wednesday night and it was pretty empty which made for good service and fast food. I'm not big on tortillas, so I was completely stoked that  they had a fajita type dish called alambres.
Also, I was a bit daring and tried their jalapeno margarita. I have a mild to medium pallete, and boy was that thing spicy! I couldn't gulp it down like I do a shot of tequila, but it was good to try.
Prices were good, service was lovely, food was great, I'd definitely go back.
1) I can't believe how good this place is. It's right up with del Seoul in terms of ridiculous flavor. Different, but still very very good. The shrimp tacos are the sheit. My friend got a shrimp burrito and it looked amazing. I kept hinting that I wanted a bite, but that mofo didn't catch my drift. ;-) lol. I'm going to have to return to try that one out.
2) The atmosphere is cozy, clean, and contemporary. Never crowded either, but it should be.
3) Service with a smile. Â Very nice people.
Yall go try it.
My goodness, best tacos I've had in Chicago!!
These taco babies are something to write home about. Try their Rajas de poblano, portabello, and shrimp tacos! The rajas was on the slightly spicy side, and boosted my appetite like crazy. The portabello was incredibly juicy for a vegetarian taco. The shrimp, like others mentioned, was cooked to perfection with a tender yet slightly gummy texture. You should absolutely try their red (hot) and green (tangy) dipping sauce. They were equally fantastic, and it's very likely that your taste buds will start dancing after the first bite.
With those said, I give their food a solid 5-star. But their prices are a bit too high for tacos. Yet still, a 4-star compliment is the lowest I can offer.
A Near West gem!
This place would get easily get 5 stars from me if it were a bit cheaper -- probably 20% cheaper for most items, or at least providing free chips and salsa when you are dining in here. Â However, with that said, even with the high prices, this place had some of the best tacos I've had.
The shrimp tacos here are amazing. Â Really great. Â Deep fried with a nice, buttery, beer batter. Â Shrimp is tender and perfectly fried, and garnished with a spicy creamy sauce and cabbage. Â The tacos are a bit small though -- only two medium sized shrimp wrapped in a soft taco. Â $3.25 a piece is pricey too, especially since I can easily eat 4 of these for lunch.
Every time we've been here to eat or had take out, we've come away wanting to come back. Â The food here is very solid! Â
The tacos here are really good but by far the best are the shrimp and the rajas de poblano tacos! Â The steak and al pastor tacos are good but the shrimp and rajas de poblano tacos are soo good! Â
I've also had a few alambres which is basically a Mexican stir fry which you eat with tortillas. Â Also very good. Â
My only complaint is we ordered the guacamole and they are kind of stingy on the portion, but everything else is really good.
Paraphrasing Pimp C, we ate so many shrimp tacos. Â I've been here twice. Â The first time I thought the scrimp tacos were the truth. Â The second time, they were fine but nothing amazing. Â I really enjoyed the rajas and portobello tacos. Â My wife wasn't that enthusiastic about the chicken or steak tacos. Â We both hated the fish tacos, which were served with green olives. Â Those were in the "two bites and trash" category. Â Salsas were really good.
Not inexpensive (for tacos). Big Star is similarly priced but completely destroys this place. That's not to say that I didn't like Lagartija. This place is competent/acceptable, but not great. Â I'll return but will stick with the vegetarian offerings.
A taqueria that has delicious food made with high quality ingredients, with prices to match. Â Here are some pointers.
(1) The tortillas here are excellent. Â Made in house every day.
(2) Believe the hype re: shrimp taco.
(3) Pretty interesting agua frescas. Â Today I had hibiscus, which was great.
(4) The al pastor and steak are pretty decent but will not blow you out of the water. Â For great al pastor, Tierra Caliente, for steak I like El Milagro.
(5) Excellent trio of salsas, especially the verde, which has a thicker texture and tastes very bright, perfect for balancing heavier foods. Â Also, one of the salsas is served with this darling miniature wooden spoon that I contemplate stealing every time, but I think better of it. Â Barely.
(6) My favorite thing to eat here is the rajas de poblano, both in taco form and in breakfast form (mixed in with scrambled eggs). Â Especially the breakfast form.
This place is not cheap. Â For example, today I ordered two tacos (shrimp and rajas de poblano), a quesadilla, and an agua fresca, and the meal was $15 including tax and tip. Â So if you are looking to spend less than $10, try Tierra Caliente a couple miles up Ashland. Â Despite the prices, I think La Lagartija is worth it and is in the regular rotation.
They now have a liquor license!
I recommend the grilled fish tacos.
The husband and I have been here once. Â We both enjoyed it. Â Not sure how the pricing will change with the advent of the liquor license. Â The night we went, they had just gotten the liquor license the day before!
The guacamole is not worth the price. Â Very small portion.
We also tried the charros frijoles which were delicious (and a cardiac patient NO NO because they are flavored with red meat).
My son-in-law loves the tacos al pastor made with pork.
The salsas are both very good..
The al pastor is very good here. They serve with some pineapple chunks. Still feels like Big Star does the Al Pastor like no one else. However what La Lagartija gets better then any other taco place... is the Chicken. The chicken has a really good chili marinade/seasoning to it... and its not dry... wait, its moist!!! Too many times have I been to a taco joint where the chicken tacos are far over cooked. And even scarier is when they have been undercooked! Im looking at you El Cid.
Anyway, this is place is a bit off the beaten track, but a good taco awaits.
So I came, I saw, I conquered. Yes, the place is awesome for circuses and gives you the feeling of being in an (upscale) Taqueria in Mexico, but I have to admit, lunch time was the perfect time to go. Well it was around 1 ish and my friend Lupe invited me. I am glad I went.
The Guac (Yes Johnny, not bad), was actually nice. A bit over salted but please, what leftovers? I ATE IT. Now, I had the Volcan Taco (Tostada with Al Pastor and cheese) and I thought it was okay. I needed to dribble on some hot sauce (but these sauces were actually quite the cat's meow). The Tostada may have been burned a tad bit, but still gave me authenticity of al pastor. Well then again, it is Mexican owned and operated. Although it did strike me as strange that the waitress only spoke to us in english, umm hello I am latino and speak the mother tongue extremely well. But that wasn't a big deal. I also had the Rajas de poblano with corn and I really thoght this was a unique item, I should've ordered another one. I really liked the texture and the taste a whole lot. The other taco I had has been forgotten! No really, I forgot what I had. Stop waiting for the response because at this point "sometimers" set in. And that is all.
All in all I think that you can't go wrong at this taqueria and that whatever you order, I am sure will be great. Seriously I will be back soon, now parking is a tad tight, but for a few quarters, the meters can hold you our for an hour at least.
Yum!
Great casual place with authentic Mexican food. I had an horchata, chips and salsa, portobello tacos (the special), and veggie alambre (make your own tacos).
Not too much ambiance, but the service was fast and friendly, the food was tasty, the price was very reasonable, and it's BYOB! I only wish they gave complimentary chips and salsa ($4), and had a few more veggie taco options.
A great mexican restaurant. This isn't your typical taqueria which is cheap and fast and greasy but still good, this is more upscale, with better ingredients, and prepared in a much more authentic way. All their tortillas were hand made in house and looked that way too (and tasted great). Their menu is a little small but everything on there they make extremely well. They are a little more expensive than the regular cheap taquerias but they are better and worth it. Still a great bargain.
They're also BYOB so grab some coronas.
Oh yeah - this gets an unabashed, hands-down, 5 stars.
Sounds like the word is out on the shrimp tacos with all these posts and the 2010 TOC "Best taco" award, etc. All that and they STILL met my expectations.
I got the Alambres Jorongo out of a desire to try something completely new. It was pork, steak, peppers, chiles, pineapple (wha?) and cheese all seared together in a skillet. Â It was really good. Â I couldn't figure out where the pineapple fit in when I ordered. Â And, I'm not sure I really got it once it arrived. Â I typically prefer savory meats and cheeses with just the sweet of peppers/onions. Â But, this was worth a try just for something new, and it came out well altogether. Â In fact, delicious!
Ah, but I've buried the lede...
The above would have scored 4 out of 5 for me. Â But the rest of the meal smacked this into 5+ stars territory.
The homemade corn tortillas here are grilled fresh to order, and they put everything I've ever had to shame. Â Shame on ALL of you, previously-eaten tortillas! Â They're just a little thicker than most (by my count) and they're a little charred but without losing any of that moist, perfect chewiness. Â Ahhh... Â I'd go back simply for a stack of those on a paper plate.
I also ordered shrimp tacos on the side, and they were so fresh and crispy. Â They're not grilled, but very lightly fried, without being heavy or greasy. And, served with some crispy somethingorother veggies, (probably iceberg lettuce, but could it really be that simple and delicious?) as well as a light tartar-tasting drizzle that was a perfect compliment to the whole thing. Â Really these tasted more like what I expect out of fish tacos. Â But, call it whatever you want, I devoured them and have craved more ever since.
I will be back. Oh yes, I will be back. And, I will bring others. And, we will be hungry.
Consider yourselves warned, La Lagartija!
Oh my goodness! Another recommendation from a special someone told me to try this taqueria for their Shrimp Tacos. Â It was an immediate home run for me. Â The batter of the shrimp and the crema sauce that's on top is the perfect balance of flavor and balance.
I also tried their La Comadre which is pork, pineapple, onion, and green pepper.  Amazing flavor profiles, the only feedback I had was that it was  little greasy, but they throw in a generous amount of tortillias that soak the oil.
Overall, a great experience and we had it to go!
wow...I have to go back, but must refrain. Â The tortillas are soooo good (made fresh de masa), and the cazuelitas of queso fundido are so incredibly good, they make me want to go on cholesterol meds NOW because I will be returning just to try all the flavors! Â My boyfriend had the special (a pork tips guisado/stew, with vegetables). Â Apparently it was good because when he was done, that plate was so clean you swear they just took it out of the dishwasher!
The staff was so sweet and friendly, we could not have been happier. Â
The only downside was the price, which was in my opinion a bit on the high side, but not that bad. Â I was a also a little surprised that they didn't bring complimentary chips?? Â They brought out some salsas....but no chips...so we sat there staring at the salsas wondering what they were going to taste like, lol.
That being said, we will DEFINITELY be returning to try out more items, although I told my boyfriend to try and limit our visits because I am so in love with that queso fundido, I am seriously afraid of what it will do to my cholesterol levels!!
Read about this place (I think in Chicago Dish) and since I love a good taco, I went for lunch one day. The item specifically mentioned in the blurb was the shrimp taco, which peaked my interest.
I ordered 2 of those, plus a cheese & mushroom quesadilla. The shrimp in the taco are fried, which some people may not like, but the taco was excellent. It has cabbage & a tartar type of sauce on it; it was most comparable to a fish taco I thought. Also thought the quesadilla was very good (and large). The homemade tortillas are excellent, notably better than store bought. Enjoyed the food and the homemade sauces (not exactly salsas, they were smoky and spicy).
I noticed that guac is very expensive to order as an app (I can't remember the exact price but it was high enough to put me off). By sticking to tacos and quesadillas it was a reasonably priced lunch meal, about $12 pp.
I'm a fan! Yes, I am! What?! Whaaattt??!! Yes, it's loud! And, to effectively communicate with your friends or wait-staff, you'll, likely, have to yell! But, don't let that be a deterrent to coming here! Either anticipate the noise level or get your food to go!
Huh?! What's that??!! What's good to order?! Oh! Get the guac! The GUAC! Yeah, the guacamole!! It's creamy, made to order and extremely fresh! The chips are pretty dang tasty on their own! My trusted go-to, the chicken burrito, is done nicely! Ample in size and filled with the good stuff, this burrito satisfies! Does La Lagartija do anything revolutionary?! No! But, it does what it does well and if you're in the mood for tasty, no-muss slightly-expensive taqueria fare, you could do far worse than by coming here! Come here! I said, "You should come here and try it out!!"
WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!
This is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. Â I saw a note about this place on Zagat as a "new taqueria" and I figured it was worth a try. Â I would say that was a bit of an understatement. Â
Colorful decor, and a friendly, but efficiently minimal staff set the tone ... and I was greeted by delicious smells as soon as I stepped through the door.
First - I'm a sucker for fresh tortillas. Â That is always a plus. Â I'm a sucker for taquerias, and honestly for fresh, delicious tacos. Â
Apparently, this is my kinda place. Â I tried three tacos, a chorizo, al pastor, and poblano. Â All three were amazing. Â The side sauces (not really salsa, not really mole ... kinda in-between) were fresh, innovative, and delicious (But - side note, please tell me they don't re-serve that same sauce bowl to multiple tables), and pickled onions are always appreciated.
This is kinda like the good parts of Big Star without the bad parts like lines, waits, and the scene. Â No, this is not a destination nor a place to be seen. Â It is just good tacos. Â (And - sorry - no delicious drinks)
I've seen a review were someone was complaining about price. Â The tacos are $2.50 each, and 3 are sufficient to make me happy. Â 4 would be too much. Â I guess my lunch (with a delicious hibiscus juice) was $10 and it probably should have been $9. Â That extra dollar just isn't offending me enough to take away a star.
I had seen their colorful logo from the number 9 bus on the way to work a few times and thought "oh how fun". Today I decided to walk over and get some lunch. It's places like this that make me happy I'm in Chicago.
I ordered the quesadilla Mexicana and a horchata. The drink came out first and had that perfect balance of riciness and sweetness. Then came my quesadilla with a selection of salsa. The chorizo was deliciously tender and spicy without being overpowering. The green salsa had that great tomatillo flavor while the red salsa was surprisingly smoky and deep. And the best part is how inexpensive it all was.
Yeah, I could eat here everyday.
La Lagartija = The Lizard.
I love the Lizard, apparently.
Yep, so I ate here twice in 5 days. Kind of a rarity...but when fresh guacamole and watermelon water call, one must answer.
Don't let "taqueria" in the name fool ya's, this is a great "mid-level" place. Casual, but still has waiter service...lots of tables to sit and chat, and nice, shiny and new. Plastic cups still prevail, and dishes are served in plastic baskets, but its surely a cut above neighboring taquerias. Prices are spot on for this type of establishment...and service is sweet as pie!
First visit:
1. Mexican Chopped Salad w/chicken. Fresh, flavorful and a huge portion. Could. Not. Finish. Fresh avocado sliced atop a nice bed of lettuce, cheese, citrus and chicken.
2. A bit of an Al Pastor taco. A-OK. Nothing totally special, but homemade flour tortillas were fresh.
3. Diet Coke (cans) + Horchata! (fantastic horchata, I must say)
4. Guac to split. VERY good with hot chippers.
Total for 3 peeps: $35
-----------------------------------------
Second visit:
1. Horchata (of course) + Watermelon Water (SO GOOD) + water. Why is the water notable? It's served in a large jug at the counter and is soaked with a faint basil taste. Very awesome if you love basil, which Coach does. So, he is happy and hydrated and the world is righted.
2. Volcan Taco: GET THIS. It's a blend of meats and chihuahua cheese melted over a crispy tortilla. Same size as a taco (and same price) but with a little extra 'oomph.'
3. Quesadilla with pineapple! Yum. Perfectly portioned, served hot.
4. Guac to split.
Total for 2 peeps: $21.
-------------------------------------------------
Some notes:
*Same owners as BomBon Cafe (a few doors north): I'd try both.
*Liquor and beer are coming soon! (liquor license pending)
*Easy peasy street parking
*Credit cards accepted
*Excellent for take-out.
*Great for kids during the day. It's loud and unbreakable up in here.
Ps. Just as good as Big Star's tacos...with 100 percent less bullshit.
Stumbled across this place by chance when my coworkers decided that we didn't want another lunch at Subway.
The menu is simple: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and a few extras. Everybody is given a piece of paper to check off the items they want. I don't mind this concept, although it did lead to some confusion once our food was delivered to the table (and a missing taco!).
The guacamole was slightly better than average, although I was put off by the two tiny cups it was served in as opposed to one larger bowl. The portion was fine, but the dimensions made for some difficult dipping- and nothing should stand in the way of my chip. NOTHING!
The tacos al pastor were among the best that I've had in this city. The meat was tender, the flavors were spot on, and the homemade tortillas were perfect. While the table loved their quesadillas, I give the tacos an edge over the quesadillas, but that might be because I'm a taco guy.
My biggest complaint would be the service. We had 4 different people at our table throughout the meal, which is fine, but our water refills were neglected and we wouldn't have received our chips and guac before the meal unless we asked.
Service issues aside, which I'll give them a pass since they just opened, I think we found our new Mexican lunch spot in the office!
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