I was a little disappointed by this place: it was well reviewed and since it closes be 10PM I thought that it would be a cut above the places that make their money on the late-night crowd. However, when I stopped in here it seemed like the food was very comparable to those places, and yet the prices were higher. I'm not sure what that money goes to, because the service is equally inconsistent and the restaurant itself is standard issue diner formica and bright wall murals.
The food wasn't bad by any means, but if I'm going out to dinner for Mexican, this would not be my first choice in the neighborhood.
Came here with my family and, boy, was everything on point. Such a tiny little spot and absolutely brilliant. I don't think I have ever had, or will ever have, guacamole as amazing as this. And sooooo cheap! Every single dish was totally massive and could easily have been three meals. While we did not get any tacos, everyone else around us did and they looked divine. They are on my list for the next visit.
Review Source:Location is so convenient, right next to the California Blue Line exit. Â The food was excellent and very inexpensive ($14 for two if us, no alcohol, incl tax). Â The service was good; no complaints at all. Â My fiance had street tacos ($2.25 ea) and I had 2 Gorditas ($2.75 ea). Â We live in the South Loop but will definitely make the trip out to this place again.
Review Source:Burritos are a mandatory part of the Chuck diet. Â I live less than a 5 minute walk from here, so you can typically find me occupying a booth at least twice a week. Â Their burritos are legit, they have an ultra friendly staff, and you can't beat the price. Â They'll let you hang out and read a book/sip some coffee if they're not super busy as well.
Review Source:Let me start off by saying it's one of the best burritos I've had since moving back to Chicago. Â I did a take out order and was pretty much ready by the time I put my CC back in my wallet. Â when I got home the burrito was still pipping hot, meaning it filled up with meat which is awesome since i'm a carnivore. Ha! nevertheless the size alone made me blush. Never have a gotten such a large burrito outside of NYC for less than $5 bucks. Crazy. I will say that it was worth the 10 minute walk outside in the freezing cold. I recommend this place to anyone who loves burritos but who doesn't want to pay an arm & leg.
Review Source:My wife and I stopped her when she had a hankering for mexican. Â They give you homemade chips, and chunky salsa (more like pico) that is not too hot but very tasty. Â They also add a small bowl of pickled vegatables (carrots, cauliflower, garlic, onions, peppers). Â We had tacos and they were very tasty. Â In looking at the menu, i wished I lived close to this place becaseu i found many items that i would love to try. Â The staff was attentive and the prices were reasonable. Â they also serve beer which went well with the tacos!!
Give it a try you wont be disappointed.
In a neighborhood that has transformed radically since the late 1990s, a few things have stayed the same: Taqueria Moran, the Panaderia across the street, and the Cozy Corner. Well, I am a huge fan of the eggs at Taqueria Moran. Now, since my family is Tejano, I get my flour tortillas. Side note: most from Northern Mexico and Texas were flour tortilla people, and those from the south and center of Mexico were corn tortilla people -- ok, so "Authentic" means different stuff, kids.
Juevos a-la Mexicana. Get them. Perfect cure for hang-overs, and get some cheese on the eggs - it is worth it. They have huge plates which also crack me up.
I love the little "bar" they have there! It is funny. I think it is a "full bar."
Worse service ever. I get it ...they are busy but when I got to the front of the line I asked if he had any recommendations for vegetarians and he looked at me crazy like I had some nerve. He said "oohh nooo ...we have burritos and tacos" ummm ok RUDE!!! It was my first time there I had looked at the menu but I wanted some apparently not so simple suggestions :(. I also asked for guacamole on my burrito and when i got home there was no guacamole but 2 small green salsas instead... um last time i checked guacamole was made out of avocado !!
Review Source:I like this place because it's one of the few Taqueria's  where I can actually eat a taco. This is due to the fact that I make my own fresh at home and the difference between store bought and freshly made is undeniably different. That said, the tortillas here are either the best store purchased you can find or they actually make them fresh. They still are not as good as those that I make for my taco nights, but they will due. Per usual whether I am here or elsewhere I eat the Lengua and Cabeza types. Both of these are pretty good here, but still could use a bit more seasoning, as they can be a bit bland without some verde and pico. All in all this place has good food and service, it just doesn't seem to be a place that I consistently crave...
Enjoy Suckas'!!!
Taqueria Moran is a nice, clean, cheerful taqueria located right below the California stop on the Blue Line L. Â Getting there couldn't be easier. Â There are 11 tables below mural bedecked walls, and they seem to do a fair amount of take out business. Â One waitress/hostess takes care of most of the front of house stuff, while two guys in an open kitchen area cook up a storm.
Before even ordering I was presented with a little cup of pickled carrots and cauliflower, a little plastic molcajete full of really nice fresh-tasting pico de gallo, a basket of good non-greasy chips and a ketchup-style squirt bottle of green salsa.
I ordered the three taco dinner which for $6.95 adds rice and refritos, as opposed to three ala carte $1.75 tacos. Â Unlike some other places, it was no problem getting three different meats for my tacos: carne asada, adobado and carnitas. Â All three tacos were very good: two tortillas each wrapping a goodly amount of beef or pork along with onions, cilantro and grated queso blanco cheese sprinkled over the top. Â Two lime wedges were on the side for spritzing juice over the tacos. The rice was simple but good: there were no pilaf-like additions of carrots or tomatoes, just simple rice with a bit of flavoring. Â The refrito beans were positively soulful. Â
A bottle of cerveza Bohemia, poured into an iced plastic mug washed it all down, for a total of $12.03 plus tip, very reasonable in my opinion.
The bathroom, labeled "caballeros" in my case, was clean and functioning, though there was no hook on the door or place to set down my shopping bag, a small detail.
They kindly left me alone to check some things on my cell phone's web browser and didn't hurry me out even though I had finished eating. Â As soon as I stepped up to the counter to pay, the hostess/waitress was ready to take my payment.
Delicious, fast, cheap.
Took me a while to learn the glory of traditional Mexican. Â I grew up in rural PA, so the extent of my Mexican cuisine knowledge was Taco Bell. Â Once I finally de-conditioned my need for salt and could taste things for what they were I was thrust into a new world of awesome.
They get to you fast, get you your food fast and it all tastes great. Â Anything carnitas there is amazing and their quesadillas are some of the best things I've ever put into my mouth.
The only downside - at least from my perspective - is it's the kind of place where it's a little ambiguous as to whether or not you have to go up to get your check or they'll bring it to you - as I've had to do both. Â I respect the idea of letting me and my friends sit and chat a while longer, but if we look done you should stop by and at least ask if we need anything else. Â Overall, a small complaint.
Wife and I have been coming here about twice a month for the past 2 years for the Al Pastor tacos. Â Insanely tasty and dirt cheap. Â I don't understand how this place makes money because they are so cheap and give you free chips and salsa along with the pickled veggies. Â I have tried Al Pastor all over the city and think that these are the best. Â Started going here after Time Out voted them best tacos in the city a few years back. Â Was surprised to see that Chicago magazine didn't include them in a recent listing of best tacos, I question the magazines credentials after that error by omission. Â Unfortunately, I can't really comment on the other dishes because we can't stop ordering the tacos.
Review Source:I was feeling a jibarito this past weekend, but when I got off the California stop I realized it was getting late and I had a party to go to. Rather than walk for a bit we decided to stop into Taqueria Moran.
First came the pickled carrots and salsa. I wish every place ever served pickled carrots. I could probably have gotten full off just those.
Once I finished my entree, I think I should have just gone that route.
I asked for the jibarito, but they had ran out. Still on a sandwich fix, I got the cubano instead. Let's see...ham, check. Pork, check. Mustard, nope. Pickles, nope. Swiss, nope.
Instead of Swiss there was a mix of some shredded cheese and...square slices of American? Ehh?? My stomach was not happy afterwards.
And the darn thing wasn't even pressed. Maybe it's my fault for trying to get Puerto Rican and Cuban at a Mexican place, but maybe they shouldn't have them on the menu then.
I really really wanted to like this place. I live very close and I love Mexican food, but it wasn't very good.
The service was okay, not slow, but not fast, and not helpful either.
Perhaps I am at fault for not being more educated on the gordita, but it was blech. I asked the waitress what a gordita was, having an idea but wanting to double check. She gave me a nondescript answer but my husband was ready to order so I went ahead and ordered a chicken gordita and a steak taco. She says, do you want  "everything" on your gordita?  I say "sure" thinking onions, tomatoes, maybe some lettuce, or cheese, perhaps cilantro... something, right?
Our food arrives and the soppy gordita is leaking chicken juice and a dark brown mush-like paste. I think this sauce was perhaps mole? That was it too, mole and chicken, and then at the very very bottom, was a small amount of refried beans but nothing else. So when she asked if I wanted "everything" on it, she meant brown sauce? Like I Â said, perhaps it was my lack of gordita knowledge, but either way, it was not very good. And my steak taco was okay but very dry and chewy. Sad day.
On the bright side, my husband really enjoyed his chorizo tacos.
Huge fan of this place. Portions are awesome, authentic and taassssstay.
Cold outside? Get the tortilla soup- seriously some of the best in the city.
Not cold outside or you hate soup- get the carne asada tacos with cilantro and onion (and lime on the side- keep it classic).
The boyfriend loves their pollo chimicangas with extra green sauce.
I've never had a problem with service- all the waitresses are friendly and efficient.
What the blazes is going on at this joint??? Â And why are people so high on it???
Food: girlfriend found a piece of plastic (plastic!) in her enchiladas, which were otherwise bland and unexciting; friend's chimichanga was soggy and devoid of flavor; my flautas were uninspired and uninspiring. Â As others have noted, the pico is half-assed and very poorly blended, and the general ethos seems to be quantity over quality. Â We all felt a little off after dinner (MSG, maybe?).
Service: absolutely dreadful. Â In our waitress' defense, it's a busy place and is severely understaffed (no busboys, so waitstaff buses and serves), but I cannot excuse her treatment of our party. Â Waited to order for 20 minutes, waited for the check another 25, and not once did she check in with us after the food had arrived (had to flag down the other waitress to refill our water). Â In our brief encounters with her, she was surly and rude.
This restaurant isn't going anywhere any time soon, as it's well rated here and elsewhere online and is the first thing riders see as the alight the Blue Line at California. Â But for the love of all that is sacred: AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS.
I absolutely love the fact that Logan Square is full of authentic, delicious, and cheap Mexican restaurants. When that taco craving hits (you know which one I'm referring to), there is nothing more I would rather do than to hit up this popular spot right off the California Blue Line stop.
The service has been great every time I have gone. The staff is attentive and very fast. I also love their chips and salsa that they put out while you wait for your meal, so you don't stay too hungry for long! I highly recommend their tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. I haven't had the chance to try out their margs, but I hear they are great and sound like a good excuse to go back :)
Their carnitas and al pastor tacoes are some of the best I've ever had. Â Cilantro and onion only. Â Pickled carrots and cauliflower. Â Yummy chunky salsa. Â This place is no frills, and super tasty. Â A great neighborhood spot. Â If you have a bad experience here, give it another try. Â 99% of the time they hit the nail on the head. Â I dream of their carnitas.
Review Source:This place is authentic and CHEAP. We got tacos: $1.75 each (unless you get fish). Guac was around $3-$4. But it was sooo good and creamy. Not like most guacs. They also bring out chips and REALLY hot salsa to start out w/ (like most mexican restaurants).
You pay at the cashier when done.
I would come back to try other items on the menu.
I'm not sure why anyone is giving this place positive reviews. Our service was terrible and the food was worse.
To start, they give you "Pico de Gallo," but it's really just onion/cilantro liquid with a few tomatoes floating around in it. The pickled veggies weren't my thing, but I'm sure if you're into that sort of thing, they're fine. We ordered guacamole for our app. I'll give them that the avocados were super fresh and creamy-yum-but that's where that ended. There was no kick, no hint of lime flavor, it was just bland avocado spread.
I was with my mom and boyfriend, and we all decided to order different things: steak enchiladas (though they brought chicken instead) in the mole sauce, a chicken chimichanga, and a pork adobado torta. Like I said, they got the meat wrong in one of the orders, and the chicken was very concerning in both dishes. You know, that weird chicken you're afraid to eat? That's what we were served. When we tried to ask about the different menu options before ordering, the waitress who barely spoke any English at all (which is fine, but then please send someone over who can help) was dismissive and couldn't have cared less what we got or if we would be satisfied--which we obviously weren't.
Everything lacked flavor. I asked for hot sauce. They brought me the red equivalent to the green stuff they bring to your table. It wasn't spicy either. I asked for HOT sauce, and they didn't have it, or maybe our completely apathetic waitress didn't care to get it for me, but honestly, what Mexican place doesn't have hot sauce??
We were excited to try a small, local spot for Mexican (who doesn't love good Mexican food?), but this place was a total bust from top to bottom. Oh, and my mom got sick from her meal. Thanks, guys.
It's dark lord day, you want to go into rev, but rev is packed like no tomorrow. My friend and I's hunger still needed to be taken care of, so it was here that we decided to change that.
I was pretty much in a taco mood. So, I did one of my normal orders and got two pollo and a carne asada taco. The chicken was pretty darn good. They packed a lot of meat into it. The carne asada was pretty good, but the chicken was much better. I also got a sick of beans and rice. They were very generous with this and it was hard not to gobble it all up.
I should also note the salsa for the chips that they give you to start. This was really damn good stuff. Rare is it that one notices this, but it made me take notice.
The service was okay. We didn't have a problem getting our order, but our waitress was a bit hard to find once it came time to pay the bill. That was the only real downside of the meal, but I also took into account how busy it was from all of the rev overflow.
My little neighborhood joint, Sol de Sur, apparently closed its doors...so in my quest to fulfill my taco craving the other night I popped into Taqueria Moran. I can't believe I've never been here before. The steak tacos were amazing...much better than Sol de Sur! The salsa was super flavorful and the rice and beans were delish.
Can't wait to go back to try some other items on their menu.
Fantastic late supper taco joint. The carne asada was pretty perfect, as well as the fish taco. Good prices for good portions, even a la carte. The house salsa has lots of fresh jalapeno in it, which I enjoyed as someone who loves spicy food. The salsa verde that comes with the house chips was also a nice touch.
Negra Modelo..$4. Done.
A HIDDEN GEM IN PLAIN SIGHT
I've passed by this place for years without ever really paying much attention to it. Â If only I had stopped in sooner I would have discovered a wonderful Mexican restaurant with freshly prepared food, great service, and very reasonable prices. Â
Normally when I think of a taqueria, I picture a takeout joint where you pick up your food at the counter, scarf it down, and take off; no waitstaff, no tipping, just super casual. Â Taqueria Moran isn't like that. Â It feels more like a restaurant with friendly servers, a nice albeit casual ambiance, and excellent food that's made to order.
Everything I've had here is excellent from the pollo en mole (with dark meat! - always a good sign of authenticity) Â to the enchiladas. Â They also have excellent salsa and fresh, crisp chips. Â If you're sick of cold, three day old chips and mass produced flavorless salsa then this is the place for you. Â From the first bite of that salsa you know that this place takes pride in what they do. Â
For what it is, it's perfect. Â 5 stars.
Delicious. Delicious. DELICIOUS.
Get the fish tacos - they're so fantastic. In fact, get anything. It's delightfully good and always pretty quick!
A word of caution to the "mild-loving" palates - the salsa will be too spicy for you and your water might go empty for a few minutes. That being said, if you can take the heat and want cheap, delicious Mexican food, this is it!!
Holy crap.
We had planned to go to The Boiler Room for some pizza, but got there 20 minutes before service started. Â We decided to go over to Taqueria Moran to have something small while we waited because we were really hungry. Â
We went in and were seated immediately. Â We only planned on having a small snack.
Then the server brought out a pretty large serving of pickled veggies with chips and salsa. Â We started feeling a little guilty because we knew we weren't going to order enough to make it worth her time. Â (She reinforced this when we placed our order.)
My husband had a chile relleno taco and we each had a bowl of tortilla soup. Â We split a(n) horchata. Â (The server asked, "That's it?")
The chile relleno was HUGE. Â The horchata was a little to sweet and cinnamon-y for me, but the husband loved it.
Then, after eating almost all of the pickles and chips, our soups arrived. Â For $3, I was expecting MAYBE a cup of soup-- a pretty small portion. Â This portion was gigantic.. and so delicious. Â It was broth, tortilla strips, crema, avocado, and cheese. LOADS of cheese. Â I was a little sad because there was so much cheese, but a normal person would be thrilled. Â We destroyed the soup. Â All of that was only $14.44. Â
We didn't go to The Boiler Room. Â We were full, which is a pretty huge accomplishment for any restaurant.
Stopped in here last week for the first time. Very good! I had a torta and my girlfriend had the enchiladas. She was blown away. The torta was a little dry but still above average. Can't beat the prices for this quality of Mexican. Would definitely go again.
The homemade picco and pickled carrots were fantastic.
Parking was a little bit sparse, but worth the trouble.
Fancy place this is not. Â It is your regular neighborhood taco joint. Â Honestly i would've never even been here had it not been for (a) Â the insistence of my boyfriend. Â (b) I don't live nearby and (c) I don't usually try random taco places unless I'm really drunk (but those days are long gone now since I can handle my liquor). Â
But alas, you see my boyfriend has this never ending love affair with the swine; I, do not. Â Insistent he was to try this place because he said the Al Pastor tacos were one of, if not, the best in the city. Â
1st Visit: Â Perused the menu and saw they had chicken in mole sauce. Â SWEEEEET!! Â Chicken in mole is my favorite Mexican dish EVER so i went for it. Â The mole was "OK" nothing fantastic. Â The rice was tasty though (some Mexican places have rice that tastes like they used generic Mexican flavoring). Â I tried my boyfriend's Al Pastor, which oddly enough are NOT on the menu. Â Mmm yummy! Â
2nd Visit: Like i said, I'm not big on pork so i ordered carne asada tacos with cilantro and onions. Â They were definitely tasty. Â The chips that they bring to the table are very good as well. Â Some Mexi joints fail on the chips but these were good. Â Not too greasy, nice crunch and not stale. Â Again i have a bite or two off of my bf's tacos. Â Yeah.. i think i do like these...
3rd Visit: I'm craving Mexican food. Â Something quick to eat... and we come here again. Â This time i get one al pastor and one carne asada. Â Yep, I'm sold.! These ARE good. Â So good.. my next visit i bring my mom. Â She loved them too!
So, yes.. this place is not fancy. Â It's a regular taco joint. Â But the meat is definitely tasty, whether is the steak or the al pastor. Â A must if you are in the area and a plus the prices are extremely budget friendly. Â I'm sold!
Taqueria Moran is a great bang for your buck. I mix the tacos...getting pollo, Carne asses, and pescado tacos. Â I always get cilantro and onions to top, but I love to add cheese and sour cream. The prices to add those are ridiculous, especially with the per taco charge. Even though the tacos are awesome, I feel like I can't get exactly what I want.
However, the Carne asses meat is delicious and the fish is good as well. I love their pico de gallo but be careful, it can vary on the spice level. I like it hot, but often there is only one waitress for the whole place and it take a while to get your water.
The taco gods have blessed me greatly. Perhaps there's a reason that I came here as opposed to the combination Pizza Hut/KFC down the street when I took a trip to Chicago for the Beirut show at the Congress.
Of course there was a reason. It's queso fundido. After learning of this heavenly invention from the Food Network, I knew that the next place I went that had it would be where I tried it. For the love of the taco gods. If you don't order it, you should slap yourself. Despite containing what probably amounts to 492,045 calories it is the most delicious application of cheese I have ever known. On the other hand, my friend and dining companion noted that her guacamole was top notch (full disclosure: I don't like guacamole).
In addition to the first-rate appetizers, our burritos were tasty as well. I ordered the carne asada burrito, which in less capable hands turns into a tortilla filled with bland chunks of flavorless meat and other toppings. At Taqueria Moran, a fresh, hot tortilla surrounded salty beans, flavorful, charred carne asada, cool lettuce and creamy cheese. In short, one could say it was as close to the Platonic ideal of burritos as one could hope for in this life.
Upon walking out, I very distinctly felt that I had just eaten my favorite restaurant Mexican food ever.
I'm always on a quest for good Mex and just when I feel like I found it, I get a little disappointed. Â Now, some may say that I'm hard to please, but I just like to think that there is something better out there Chicago has to offer. Â
On an random night after Home Depot, the Hubs and I were stuck. Â What do we eat that isn't fast food? Â After looking on our Yelp app, we were directed here. Â Per usual, the yelpers came through. This is a solid place to eat, flautas, enchiladas, burritos and tacos are great and the service is always friendly, nice, and fast. Â I love this place, and have gone back 5 or 6 times already!
I love everything about this place. The food. The drinks. The staff. Â The little tiki bar in the corner. Â The fact that it is directly across from the California blue line stop.
The chicken burrito is my favorite in town. Â It's awesome. Â Huge, delicious and you need to order one. Â The chicken is really juicy and flavorful instead of dry, and there is plenty of lettuce, tomato, cheese and rice to accompany it. Â You never end up with that giant hunk of nothing but tortilla with a Moran burrito, which always drives me crazy at other places.
The cafe con leche is spectacular. Â Again, my favorite in Chicago.
Free chips and salsa with all eat in orders. Â This is pretty standard, yeah, but it's still nice when it happens.
The absolute best thing about Moran though? Â The chilaquiles. Â Hands down, these are the most amazing chilaquiles you will ever eat. Â Red or green, doesn't matter. Either way they're awesome. The tortilla bits are still crispy, plenty of sauce and egg to go with, and the rice and beans on the side are delicious as well. Â To really make them out of this world though, ask for both pork and egg instead of just one or the other. Â It will blow your mind.
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