I've been to a few Los Comales locations in and around the city, and this location never fails to deliver. The counter service is prompt. They don't mess around. Table servers also are friendly.
The proportion of meat/taco filling to tortilla size is always spot on so that nothing is overflowing. I'm a fan of the complimentary spicy, pickled vegetables (carrots, jalapenos, cauliflower and onions) on each of the dining room tables. And, I like how they ask how I want my taco filling cooked. The tripe (fried crispy) tacos are delicious!
This is one of the better Taco Joints in Pilsen IMHO... It's always busy and they have longer hours than most which is def a plus! Â Inside, super busy with like 3 cooks and 5 waitress' / lots of Mexican Families seem to come here, also a plus! Â Tacos are the draw here and they don't disappoint..def go with the Al Pastor..very good flavor! Â Prices are cheap as hell but the tacos are literally 2 bites--order at least 4 or 5! Â Great "Carrots & Peppers" on table as well as good Tomatillo Salsa. Â Service was very good I thought, slight language barrier..GTFJD
Review Source:This is a solid four star fast mexican restaurant.
The restaurant is huge so its easy to find yourself a table or booth.
They have these awesome plastic boxes of pickled carrots, cauliflower, and peppers at every table and you just help yourself to it.
It may be a little unsanitary since you don't know who else has been in there but you just assume that they used the tongs like you and not their fingers or toes.
The prices are very reasonable and the food comes out pretty fast.
The service is not bad but you shouldn't expect much from this type of restaurant.
They don't wait on you hand and foot but they are attentive enough to notice you if you need something and want their attention.
Living in Chicago I have had better and worse mexican food but this was on the better side of things. I had their taco dinner and the steak and chorizo were exactly what I would expect from any taqueria but I was disappointed in their lengua (tongue). I don't think it was cooked long enough since it was not very tender and did not have a lot of flavor to it. The texture also seemed a little off to me.
Having recently moved to Chicago from the DC area, I was really excited to have Mexican food. There is NO good Mexican food in the nation's capital! The food at Taqueria Los Comales 3 was alright. Definitely better than any Mexican food in DC, but not the best I've ever had.
The chips were not very impressive, but the salsa was good and spicy. I ordered the chorizo and cheese burrito, which was way too salty, but again not the worst burrito I've had. There was also very little cheese. My husband got a chimichanga, which was much tastier, less salty, and much cheesier.
The atmosphere was not bad in my opinion. I don't mind smaller places that aren't as fancy and will go back as long as the food is awesome. I just didn't feel that way about this restaurant though.
We'll have to do some more searching to find our favorite Mexican restaurant. This one just was not it.
Holy hell, I love this place! My friend I were exploring Pilsen and decided to drop by this place. The waitress was extremely nice and helpful with my broken Spanish. We started with the chips and salsa that tasted fresh and not too salty, and our food came shortly afterwards. The food was delicious! I will definitely be making more trips to Pilsen!
Review Source:Authentic and good Mexican food inthe Pilsen hood, which happens to be a hop, skip and jump away. Â It's open late (or always open?) and serves a mean, delicious torta - seriously, get the steak torta - it's so good, filling and cheap.
The crowd ranges from skaters to locals to late night hoodlum drunks. Â Interesting. Â But going in daylight shows a kinder, more family-oriented side. Â
My only concern was that our food literally comes out in less than 5 minutes EVERY time.....but we SEE the cooks cooking back there and it tastes sooo fresh and hot....It just amazes me how fast they cook things up!
I landed in Chicago quite quite hungry from my flight because I hadn't packed snacks beforehand (totally forgot). My friend picked me up, and after I lamented my misery, he said that we'd hit up near 18th St. which had excellent Mexican food. I agreed so off we went to this taqueria he liked.
We immediately sat down and got some nice complimentary chips with salsa and limes. The salsa was a tad spicy which was a good waker-upper from a flight. Then I got the horchata which was just so good and creamy. It was nearly perfect; just a bit more cinnamon and I would've fallen head over heels.
As for my dinner, it was their steak burrito. This thing was enormous. I'm glad I didn't get the full dinner because that came with refried beans and some rice. The tortilla was thin and chewy but not in a bad way. It was in a wow-there's-so-much-stuff-bursting-out-of-this-Âburrito way. The steak was plentiful and chopped into small pieces that mixed well with the refried beans. There were plenty (I do mean PLENTY) of vegetables in the form of lettuce and tomatoes inside as well as sour cream. A great stuffer - I'd like to see how awesome their other foods are one day.
Authentic good quality Mexican food at a very reasonable price!! Their Horchata is some of the best I've ever had! I always get the chicken burrito dinner and have never been disappointed! I always seem to be craving their food and venture all the way from Wrigelyville for it.
AWESOME AWESOME PLACE!!!!
This place was so enjoyable; wonderful table service and lunch for under ten dollars. Â We brought a school group from Houston, Texas to Pilsen to see the art murals and museums, and our guide brought us to this authentic, local hangout. Â It was awesome! Â Plenty of space, very affordable, and a kicking jukebox. Â
I had two steak tacos, one chicken taco. Â
Beware of the salsa! Â HOT HOT HOT!
I feel bad that I have to write this review about Los Comales. But I went there today craving some of the good food that I always get. I walk in (stomach growling) waiting to be greeted by the staff ready to take my to go order...
I pause standing in front of two ladies who are moving quickly across the dinning room floor taking orders and running to the kitchen. Maybe they are a little busy? I'll wait... even though I didn't receive a "hi", "hola", "como esta" or anything.
Three guys come in right after me and one of the ladies quickly rushes over to take their order. But wait wasn't I here first? I stand there confused and starting to get a little pissed..
A couple minutes pass by as I decide out of frustration I need to make my exit, a random lady comes from the back and says "What you want" with a cold blank stare.
Wait.... am I in the wrong restaurant?? What the hell is going on Los Comales?? The shock wears off as I quickly tell her my order and stand there thinking about how I won't be back..
My overall guess is that these women assumed I don't speak Spanish.. (which I do) and decided that I was of no importance to them and neither was my money. That, my dear yelpers is unacceptable. (and a bit discriminatory, as I type on this wonderful MLK holiday :) )
No matter how the good the food is, I need to feel welcome in an establishment where I'm spending my hard earned money.
BEWARE if you look like ur not from around there, your service maybe different!
Two Thumbs down!
So, you know that craving at 2am when you want a taco from a street vendor on 26th street, but none are to be found? Or how about when you have no cash? Los Comales is the answer.
Los Comales serves those wonderfully greasy tacos de asada con cilantro y cebolla just like a taco should be served...and with all the flavor and satisfaction you get from a street vendor. Â But open late and takes credit! Horchata here isn't so good...pretty sure its made from a powder. Â But they have jarritos!
Parking is easy, you can dine in or carry out in minutes. Â
Los comales is everything you need and nothing you don't. Be sure to tip your servers well...even though it is not fine dining here, and the price point low, they still work just as hard to serve you. Even at 2am. ;)
3 different kinds of salsas, and a delicious tub of pickled veggies on every table-those are things that should come standard at every taqueria!
I was excited about the great reviews on yelp but I found the food to be mediocre. Â My tongue torta was kind of bland, albeit HUGE. Â Out of BF's 3 tacos: steak, al pastor, and barbacoa-the only one not dry and bland was the barbacoa. Â
Since we stumbled upon this place at 11pm on a Sunday cuz Nuevo Leon was closed, I don't think there would be another reason to revisit unless I was in the same predicament.
Scared the hell out of me. For the entirety of our 4th meal, the only people in the spot were my table, the cooks/wait staff and a table of gang bangers. In a different time (were I younger) and with a different crew (guys with muscles and melanin), I might not have felt as uncomfortable. I might not even really have noticed. But with two females (one blonde) and dressed in 'nice' attire, I felt like a sacrificial lamb waiting for slaughter. I know not to make eye contact but I also know to 'not look like a punk.' It's a delicate balance and not one I was eager to make when all I wanted was a burrito. After 45 uncomfortable and tense moments (and more than a few stares, glares, loud laughter, rapid-fire Spanish, and banging on the table), the foursome left. I exhaled... and unclenched.
No bueno.
It sucks that this experience is what comes to mind first when thinking of TLC3, but it does. I didn't feel comfortable there, point blank. There are way too many other places to go in Chicago for a 4th meal burrito. With the summer series of urban violence strumming along unabated this season, I have no need to knowingly place myself into a situation that could escalate. I know violence can (and does) happen anywhere but to walk into the belly of the beast after a tense experience... it's not worth it for a burrito.
And as for said burrito... it tasted 'hot.' I couldn't really discern the meat or any other flavor of the wrapped meal other than 'hot.' Perhaps this was for the benefit of the tamarind water I got to accompany my food. That was quite good (and refreshing). But, my meal. Eh. My terror levels. High. My likelihood to come back. Low.
(+) Cheap
(+) Quick service
(+) Open late
(+) Plenty of tables
(+) Easy street parking
(-) Stale chips
(-) Old limes (I couldn't get any juice out of 'em!)
My lengua taco was just okay (don't think I would get it again), but I loooved my carne asada burrito! It's huge and filled to the brim with the standards- lots of avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, beans, and sour cream. I've been here a couple times and would definitely stop by again if I was craving a burrito!
I'd eat here again. Â Solid but not spectacular.
3 star standard decor
5 star friendly service
4 star chorizo torta was pretty good. Â Little more tomato and guacamole instead of whole avocado pieces and it's up to 5.
2 star vegetarian burrito was just okay. Â Mostly lettuce and rice.
5 star horchata - great taste but not too sweet
When you are drunk, it is late in the night and you crave spicy food to take the edge off the one too many drinks, this is the place to go to.
Great burritos, tasty chips and salsa, yummy fajitas accompanied by horchatas always hit the spot. The price is unbelievable and even the rice on the side is very tasty.
Have eaten here way too many times to count and dont think I'm about to stop anytime soon.
Street parking is very easy to find as is free parking on the backside.
The scene: Ten 'til eleven in the Pilsen barrio, cruising 18th St. for Mexican eats. Sure, we're in the proper 'hood; this is Burrito Blvd. after all. But as you creep closer and closer to 11pm, the lights flicker off with grandiose, down-like-dominoes fanfare as the tiny eateries bid adieu for the night.
So it goes.
We kept driving, certain that something would still be open on a Tuesday. 10:59. Shit. It's not looking good!
As we approached the end (or beginning, depending on your approach) of taqueria district, we noticed a last man standing: TLC #3. Seeing that this restaurant is larger than most Pilsen taquerias caused a lick of suspicion to set in. I grabbed my phone, powered up the Yelp app and was met with a solid 4-star rating and subsequent warm and fuzzies. But then I scrolled some more. I feared the cuddling stage was over before it began once I noticed TLC was a local chain.
Cripes, get a grip, right? It's 11pm, we're hungry and TLC is ready to serve. Parking is quickly scored in the back parking lot and once inside, we grab a table and place our order: Al pastor burrito for me, a couple of tacos for my friend, and (her suggestion) a plate of green onions.
Not sure if they usually call your order out, but our food was delivered directly to our table. We wasted no time digging in and before long, I was commenting on the al pastor. Not quite Cemitas Puebla or Carmela's grade, but comparable and still rather incredible. I was almost disturbed to read the burritos have mayo in them, but it's just a smear and it actually complements the slightly sweet al pastor quite nicely. The portions are generous and we felt comfortable hanging out for an extra twenty minutes to dish some more and bask in the afterglow.
The end result: Two satisfied girls, to the tune of $12 including soft drinks. And, you should know: I'd happily drive the 9.2 miles without the catalyst of a cocktail to eat here again.
This is my girlfriend's go-to place whenever she's in the mood for any Mexican food. Her favorite: Chorizo Torta.
Street parking is easy. Staff is friendly.
Plenty of seating inside and from what I remember, it's open pretty late.
And now, they offer visa or mastercard as a form of payment. Yay.
I ate here at least once a week when I lived two blocks away. I still stop by to get my fix of real taqueria food.
The Burrito Norteno with chorizo and cheese is a greasy torpedo of delight. Also it has a piece of avocado in it. How is this not standard in all burritos? The tacos are also done right. They have just the right toppings without all the tomatoes and sour cream you get on most American tacos. For taqueria fare, Los Comales beats out the famous Nuevo Leon.
All of this tastes at least twice as good when you're drunk at 3 in the morning.
I usually don't care about hole-in-the-wall type places, especially if the prices are cheap. However, when a place has bars over the window with crackling red and green neon lights framing them,it seems better suited as a Mexican Christmas prison than a restaurant.
This place also suffers from the Taqueria curse. What is the Taqueria curse you ask? Loud,blaring music with at least 2 different loud, blaring TVs showing two different channels. Also, on the night I went in there was a guy playing guitar for tips. I'm not sure how anyone survives this sensory overload.
I can't remember anything with the food being wrong and the horchata they give you is pretty humongous. Now, something that bothers me is the uncovered pickled vegetables lying on every table. That seems like a health code violation just WAITING to happen.
Our server did not speak fluent English which lead to some confusion although she seemed very sweet about the whole thing.
I am giving this place 5 stars because it saved me on numerous occasions from having to eat in our expensive and crappy cafeteria when working in the south loop. Â The 10 minute drive earned me many brownie points with my co-workers who craved Mexican deliciousness during lunch hours. Â I called my orders ahead of time, and they were always done in a quick and efficient manner. Â They never got an order wrong in the period of 3.5yrs I ordered food for pick up. Â
The portions are HUGE, albeit, they may give your cubicle neighbor some gas...HOWEVER, they will still thank you for introducing them to this deliciousness. Â I would highly recommend their burritios, their tacos (get plenty, they are small) and their steak dinners. Â
Do yourself a favor and park in the rear part of the restaurant to avoid the hassle of parking in the meters. Â And please tip the old man there a $1.00 as he keeps your cars safe. Â Alas, it is also worth going on a slow work day on the south loop for lunch.
This was one of my rocks. One of my culinary cornerstones. Cheap, delicious, and with a grand array of picante salsas, I always knew I could drop by Comales to get satisfied. I took more people than I can count to this place, and if they were locals they were now regulars. Many young out-of-towners told me it was the best mexican they'd ever had.
How's that for hype?
A good vegetarian taco, that already comes with guacamole and is cheap. A nice cool cup of horchata. And I was set.
It was a Sunday and while I was at work in the loop I was craving something different so I figured I would get into my car and head over to 18th and Ashland to find something to eat. Found a parking spot right across the street and brought along a crew of 2 other girls.
I've been here before so I pretty much knew I was going to order 2 aguacate tostadas with the works. YUM!!! Tostadas we're delicious.
The other two gals ordered chicken tacos, tostadas and beans. They we're pleased!
Salsa was great, great service, fast service w/take out.
Had a gordita de carne asada and I swear that maybe 20 minutes later, my stomach started cramping!
Literally, knotting and in pain!
I actually text-ed my friend who accompanied me and asked her if she felt the same.
She didn't.
What she did have was something that rhymes with "suns"
Did I mention that the carne asada wasn't even all that great??
Twas really over done and just not tasty.
I ordered an orchata and I was just disappointed!
So sweet and watery!
I grew up in Pilsen, so I know me some good orchata when I taste it.
And this wasn't it!
If you happen to be strolling down 18th St. in search of something to eat, just walk on by this place.
Unless you don't mind sitting on the toilet or stomach cramping, then by all means, enjoy!
After sifting through and trying on dress after dress after dress at Knee Deep, I was hungry and in need of some sustenance.  Walking down 18th St, we decided to give  this place a try.
The space is very open and cafeteria like. Â You sit down at a numbered table and then menus will be brought to you. Â There is an over-sized container of pickled/spicy vegetables consisting of carrots, cauliflower, and peppers. Â I steered clear of these as my northern European palate doesn't accommodate spicy food.
The menu is not extensive. Â It consists of tacos, tostadas, burritos, gorditas. Â Pretty much the basics. Â I ordered a steak tostada and quesadilla. Â They came with big slices of tomato and avocado. Â Overall, they were very flavorful. Â
Now, I'm picky when it come to horchata. Â It can't have too much cinnamon flavor or I feel like I'm drinking milky Goldschlager. Â On my way out I decided to opt for a large horchata. Â The word "large" is an understatement to the size of this horchata. Â It was down right huge. Â So now, I'm really hoping it isn't the milky Goldschlager I've been experiencing lately. Â I took a sip and my taste buds were in heaven. Â I may have found my perfect horchata place.
I think I'm still recovering from the horchata overload.
Coming from San Francisco, Its hard to match a mission burrito or taco. Â That said, this place is one of the closest I've found in Chicago.
My favorite part is you get chips and salsa delivered to you as soon as you sit down. Â And its good spicey salsa, too. Â Tacos are best here - pastor, steak, chicken, all good. Â I go straight meat, onions, and cilantro for $1.50 (2 or 3, depending on hunger), but you can get them topped with cheese, avocado, sour cream, etc. Â I had a burrito - good if it weren't for that crappy shredded lettuce. Â My friend had a cheese quesadilla in a corn tortilla - small, but good.
Cheap prices, late hours, and a tacqueria thats great when you're sober .. i'll be back.
BEST.EFFING.MEXICAN.FOOD.EVER...at least in Chicago.
It was totally random, I met some people to do Taste of Pilsen and ended up experiencing some of the most authentic and delicious Mexican food since I moved to the Midwest...it was like falling in love, only better and far more satisfying.
The seasoning is perfect, the quality of the meat and produce is excellent and the prices are cheap! You cannot go wrong! Oh, and the people who work there are SUPER nice and SUPER friendly!
FYI: when they ask if you want "everything" on your tacos, its going to include a ton of chopped onion and cilantro...so if you plan on making out later that night, you should (for sake of your date) just say no.
Bonus points for serving a spicy salsa verde along with salsa roja on the tables and for having mini vats of pickled spicy cauliflower and carrot.
The only thing that sucks about this place is they are all the way in freakin' Pilsen and I'm a Northsider...though they are right off the Pink line's 18th street stop.
PS! If you're not a shitty Vegan/Vegetarian (like me) and you can resist the delicious queso y pollo temptation...they have veggie options for burritos and tacos.
****MOST AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD IN TOWN*********
So what makes me think this?  Well, (1) I'm Mexican and was raised on the border of Texas and Mexico  (2) I've been eating mexican food for over 20+ years  (3) I've been in Chicago for over 5 years and have been to countless Mexican places, but this one takes the cake!
I first went to Los Comales back in the fall of '03 when I was a first year in College. Â The night before, I went to my first frat party, and got-up the next day to go to the artist's open-house events on Halsted. Â I was with a group of my college dorm-buddies, when our Resident Head told me that we were going to eat dinner in Pilsen. Â I told him that I would only eat at the best Mexican place in Pilsen, and that's when he suggested Los Comales.
Cut to me and my college buds eating our food. Â As I tried not to laugh watching some of them eat their tostadas with a fork and knife, I noticed all the food they were eating: tostadas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and my favorite menudo. Â Everything was as authentic as can be, and deliciously satisfying, espcially with my hung-over stomach!
Now, that may have been over 5 years ago, but I've probably been back there more than 30 times since then, and I can't remember a bad moment. Â Its a crazy cheap place, open late (which served me well after many a volleyball practice), and the restaurant staff is always very friendly.
Ok, time for the Disclaimer: Â don't go there for a fancy dinner. Â Los Comales is what it is: a local Mexican joint with good authentic food. Â Not a place you take your date the first time out. Â But if you happen to be in Pilsen, and want some good food (and Horchata!) for a great price, Los Comales is for you. Â De Nada.
We all had the taco platters -- and we all liked our food very much. Delicious and authentic tacos -- really liked the al pastor, but the steak and the chicken were very good as well. Their Guacamole is also delicious -- very fresh and well prepared.
I would say that the pozole did look amazing and I would certainly give it a try on my next visit.
Seemed to be a popular spot with the locals which is almost always a good sign in my book.
Friendly and efficient service -- though not without a couple of minor misses -- totally understandable given how busy it was -- and I was willing to overlook given the overall quality of the experience.
Great value -- $1.50 for an amazing and authentic taco. $5.99 for the dinner platter -- 3 tacos with rice and beans.......
I would frequent this place if I lived in Chicago. Hope to return.
Comales is a lot cleaner and a lot friendly than most taquerias, but just as good. Not that poor attitudes or greasy tables mean great food, but it seems that way sometimes, doesn't it? Excellent tender and flavorful steak in the tacos and burritos, delicious horchata, and really good tongue tacos too, if you're so inclined.
I've also got to say, mad shout outs to any restaurant that serves quality pozole. Comales makes my short list of best pozole spots in the city. Drop in on the weekends for that little treat.
Roomie and i were slightly hungover from a black tie the night before so we had this sudden craving for tacos. Â we saw this place mentioned on the PBS 'Foods of Chicago' special where the host visited Los Comales with Dudley Nieto, the chef from Zocalo, on his recommendation; frankly, if it's good enough for Nieto, it's good enough for me. Â
i came here for the tacos and i was not disappointed! Â some tacos i've tasted are kind of burnt, greasy or surprisingly bland (which is why salsa becomes so important) or only ok, loaded up with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream (you can't taste the meat when you have all that junk on it!); these were really good because they know how to keep it simple. Â small tortilla, meat, onions and cilantro.
(sour cream on a taco should be a flavor crime.)
i ordered the pork/onions (my absolute favorite), the chicken, the steamed beef, and the steak. Â my friend ordered the gordita with beans/cheese, the steak tostada and a couple of tacos.
what i liked about the pork and onions taco was how you could taste the pork without being overwhelmed by anything else going on on the taco. Â you could tell the meat was marinated a little, it was tender, not dry and all you needed was the sprinkling of cilantro, onion and a squirt from the fresh limes to bring the 'porkiness' out.
the chicken taco actually benefitted from the lime juice, to give it some extra tang. Â (that was my least favorite taco; it was a little ho hum.) Â the steamed beef was thin, tender and came with a thin layer of beans and went really well with a squirt of the red salsa.
chain, schmain. Â los comales is simple food, made really well. Â loved it and can't wait to order the party tray of tacos and have a taste off with nuevo leon across the street.
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