First time at this location on Labor Day, and it was pretty busy, but not as busy as the other restaurants in the area. Our server greeted us at the host stand (it seemed that they were pretty short-staffed since he was the server for half the restaurant on the first floor and also manned the host stand). We did not need a reservation, and was seated right away. Ambiance: We sat right by the windows and had a nice breeze as we dined. Food: We ordered the queso to share. 2.5/5 - the dip was overcooked and stuck to the cast-iron dish. The tortilla was cold (perhaps it was a chilly day and all the windows were opened and it got cold by the time it reached our table?!). Barbocoa (3.5/5) and Al Pastor (3/5). Both tacos were okay, but again it came to the table cold, so I feel like I can't give a fair rating. Either way, each dish is kind of small for the price you pay, but you're in Wrigleyville! So I would order at least 2-3 tacos for yourself. Service: very slow! They indicated that there was a limit of 90 minutes per table, but never came back to check on us to see if we were ready for the check! We had to beg someone to come over to ring us up so we can leave! read more

We were a group of 10 for a 30 th birthday. We ordered food and it came out on three trays with everyone's tacos mixed together. The food was cold and the meat was hard to chew. Worst Mexican food I've ever had! The service was good. read more

Drinks inconsistent-and overpriced Tacos- Everything about them is bad,no flavor,bad tortilla,not hot ,,absolutely not worth $6 Service mediocre read more

Such a cute, little gentrified spot in Wrigley! But the vibe is kinda weird. We have a Mexican influenced menu with yee-haw music playing on a record player and cowboy get down Tuesday's. Peek gentrification? Anywho, the tacos are delicious. I'll say it. The hibiscus punch with tequila is straight up juice. And the $4 tequila shot I had was a good one. Prices are decent with the tacos ranging from $3-4 each. I believe they have a happy hour from 4-6pm and they have $4 tequila shots of the day. Will I be back? Yes. Will I be happy about it? Absolutely. Capitalism wins today baby. read more

Big Star - 3 fish tacos ($4) and a potato taco ($3) - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a quiet afternoon for a snack and to get out of the cold. We split chips and salsa and then I had the flautas. I loved that the flautas were meat-free! The cheese was delicious. The salsas were smokier than I'm used to, but not bad. Overall a decent meal. read more

Big Star - Flautas - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you look up SNAFU or cluster blank in the dictionary, this restaurant should be listed as an e.g. the food is good, but I'm not entirely sure what I ate because you order tacos a la carte and the staff brings them in a giant mess. We had 4 People in our party and each of ordered 3 tacos. Instead of Bringing our orders to each of us, some Cretan who was not our server brought all of the tacos out in trays together, rather than separating them into individual orders. So the poor server had to spend 10 minutes of her time sorting out who ordered what. Why? Here is some restaurant 101 advice: bring the food to the people who ordered it. Don't make us guess who ordered what. Unless you are drinking a bunch of beer before/after a Cubs game, the incompetence here is too annoying. Go elsewhere for your tacos. read more

Big Star - Not sure what these are since the tacos are delivered in one giant mess - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A BIG FIVE GOLD STARS for the nachos, drinks, location, service and vibe at Big Star. LOVE that the jams are vinyl! We popped in and sat at the bar pre-Cubs game to grab a quick drink and bite to eat. Surprise! We had no problem getting a spot at the bar even though it was pretty much a full house less than an hour before the game. Bartender was great. We chatted it up and ordered margaritas and a Yellow Rose Daiquiri in honor of being a Texan in the house. Upstairs was closed for service but open for restrooms so we got to take a look out the big picture windows at Wrigley Field across the street. Great view! Thought we were pretty much nacho connoiseurs but we found a new favorite ingredient, salsa seco, drizzled on top. Think dark chili oil, not spicy hot but bursting with smoky, warm, deep flavors. The guacamole was incredible and mixed with the black beans, cheese and chips, Big Star Nachos were like a walk off home run. Open windows and patio let all the street action in so although we were tucked away at the bar we still felt the excitement of the fans making their way to the ballpark. read more

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Not nearly as good as their Wicker Park location. Came here with friends from out of town to grab dinner after a Cubs game. They have tvs but the only game they will play is the Cubs game, otherwise the Tvs are off. I respect that. The reason I am ranking this place only 3 stars is that their menu is very limited. I'm fine with it being a smaller menu than the original location but it boggles my mind that they don't have a steak or even beef taco!! read more

I was wondering why such a popular place only has 3 stars. And then I've experienced it. I see why it's a 3 Star place; I'm also giving it a 3 stars. I've haven't been to Wicker Park location because there's always a long wait. This place, too, cited me a 45 minute to an hour wait, though they weren't able to guarantee the time since "diners can dine various times". They have a mobile notification system so you can put your name. I didn't feel like waiting that long so I looked around for seating around the bar and score! Was able to get a seat for 3 people that were next to each other on the 2nd floor. Most of the people were standing near the bar having drinks. They didn't care to sit down. They either looked like they were waiting for a table, or they were there to drink & chat while standing. Ct This place is always busy and packed so they don't need to give you the best service. The bartender wasn't friendly, but it's also because he was so busy. He was not into making small talks, not only because he was busy (like I just mentioned), but he also looked like an introvert that wasn't into socializing with people. I've read on Instagram posts that their margaritas are good. It was served from a tap. It honestly tasted like it was made with a drink lime mix and wasn't good at all. I could've skipped that $10 drink. I've also read that their al pastor is good. It was NOT good! I've definitely had better, especially from another Chicago famous taco joint. I did like queso fundido and taco de pescado. I would go back for a good time with friends, but I would definitely lower my expectation next time nor expect a good service. And skip ordering margaritas. read more

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Came here with a friend for dinner on a Sunday around 5PM. It wasn't too busy and we were seated right away. I've been to other Big Star locations and knew what to expect. We got chips and guac to start and 4 tacos - the two I got were the crispy pork belly and the beer battered tilapia. The crispy pork belly was decent but the tilapia was disappointing. It didn't really have much flavor and there was only a little sauce on it so I had some bites that were pretty bland. Also there was more breading than fish. For $4 a taco I was hoping for better. Also our server came and checked on us too much. We were in the middle of a conversation and it got to the point where I was like 'they can just tell us if they need the table'...even though there were plenty open. We ended up going to the Starbucks across the street to continue our conversation because we felt like we couldn't stay without ordering more. It was my first time at this location and even though I live in the area I can't say I'll be back. Good for big groups or if you need a quick bite before a Cubs game, but not to just hang out. read more

First time at Big Star and it was great! We didn't have a reservation on a Friday and we walked right in. It was definitely bustling. We got a pitcher of Margaritas, Chips and Salsa, Chips and Guacamole, and an array of tacos. If I could go back I would get just the chips and guacamole because it came with the salsa as well. Tacos were all reasonably priced. Everything was very good! I would definitely go back for happy hour or even to try their brunch. read more

Big Star - Chips and Salsas, chips and guacamole, Taco de Pescado, Margaritas - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very tasty tacos. Fantastic bourbon selection at reasonable prices for the Wrigleyville area. Friendly servers. I really have no complaints.

This place deserves 0 Stars. I came in around noon with three of my employees. The establishment was empty except for two employees behind the bar. There are no signs stating wait to be seated. I walked to the patio with two of my employees while the third was having a conversation with one of the workers. I was informed that one of the employees behind the bar was rude, snarky, and condescending. He ignorantly stated that are we just going to seat ourselves, or something close to that. Get over yourself. I will never come back. We got up and left. You should have a greeter or a posted sign stating your rules, you ignorant Neanderthal. A little respect goes a long way. Courtesy and kindness should be the norm, but sadly, your establishment is just another in a long line of poor customer service. read more

Stopped by Big Star last weekend with my family and we had a great experience! We are vegetarian and unfortunately there are only two vegetarian tacos on the menu but both were excellent!! The tacos were super flavorful and had a kick! We also ordered the Ensalada de big star along with the nachos (not pictured here). The nachos were just okay and the salad had a great dressing but definitely could have used more toppings. The restaurant had a very casual, laid-back vibe and overall we enjoyed our meal and do plan on coming back again! read more

Big Star - The Walking Taco, Ensalada De Big Star, and Taco Papas con Rajas - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to Big Star today 9/24/2023 mins you I've been coming here since high school 2014 and so disappointed with service and food quality at the Wicker Park Location. This has been my go to place to bring out of towners and had 3 newbies the server was rude and disinterested, the food quality has gone down. When it was time to pay I accidentally hit 30% asked if I can change and was told NO by my server. 2 hours later and all 7 of us have stomach aches, so sad to say will not be back unless things change. read more

There was a queue and a older man walked up to the open display window at the front of the resto and very politely, asked "excuse me?". Her surly reply was "we don't talk to people through this window." When the guy said "seriously?" She replied with "and if you're going to be a dick about it we won't seat you". Got everyone in the line talking. Two couples left.. is this the welcome Big Star gives to Wrigleyville? read more

Big Star - Front window reception - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mediocre all around. Come here for a drink and fun ambiance, but skip the food. Tacos are overpriced for what you get , lack flavor, and same goes for all the other menu items. Service is hit or miss. read more

I have no words, just wow. amazing dining experience thanks to tracy. Will come back soon.

Good service, good food, great atmosphere; definitely coming back soon! Thank you Tracy!

Definitely a 10/10 experience. Tracy was such a great help with the menu, drinks and keeping the place fresh and fun.

Love this place! Its in such a great location, far enough from the craziness of the Wrigley bars but right across the street from the cubs stadium. I love how it has outdoor space and is MASSIVE. They have space all upstairs and private event space upstairs. They take reservations which was perfect for a birthday brunch of 12 lol. The brunch deal had a ton of different tacos and a friend ordered the "hot chips". Don't be surprised by the spice like we were because they are "the hottest thing on the menu". So be prepared they are very spicy!!! I had their queso KNOW it does not come with chips, it comes with corn tortillas, I also ordered their guac KNOW it DOES come with chips :). I also ordered the Carne Asada and Al Pastor tacos, Carne Asada was a bit spicier than I expected but still both great tacos. The servers were really great and hostesses were very kind to us. All around a great time for such a large group. read more

I absolutely love coming to this location! The service is always top notch and the food is always prepared to perfection. To add, I was blown away by how good the salad is! I ordered it with chicken and would recommend this to anyone. The outdoor patio is a must if the weather outside allows for it. read more

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Tacos are good but some of the portions could be better. I can get more authentic tacos for less of a truck, but you pay more for the service which was good. read more

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My wife and I came here on a Sunday afternoon right before the start of a Cubs game. It's a GREAT place to grab an outdoor table and people watch. Just throngs of people heading to Wrigley Field. Now, the food was a little different story. We ordered the hot nachos and they were decent and pretty spicy. We ordered 5 tacos to share - a breakfast taco, fish taco, pork belly taco...forgot the other two. Nothing that would blow your nips off. The breakfast taco was fairly bland, the fish in the fish taco had a lot of batter, pork belly was okay. Our server was forgettable. Didn't really go above and beyond and didn't really engage us on much of anything. Kind of just went through the motions - welcome, drinks, order, come once to ask how things are, check. Standard as standard gets. The true experience of this place isn't the food, but that you are across the street from Wrigley Field. Would I come again? I would, but only for the bar and the people watching. read more

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Horrible vibe - high prices- everything is premade- no jalapeños how is this?? No steak tacos this place is horrible read more

GREAT location, but not much else to write home about. I know Big Star is very popular, so I wanted to give it a try, and came before the Cubs game last night. We started with the nachos. They are fine. The chicken was recommended to us, and the chicken is really dry. The cheese, guac, etc, were all good not great. I split 3 tacos and a salad with my girlfriend. The tacos we got were the shrimp, chicken, and al pastor. The al pastor and shrimp were decent, and the chicken was not great. The chicken was again, too dry. I did really like the tortillas that the tacos came in. Some of the better ones I've had. All in all, you come here for the vibe, not the food, but it's a cool spot. read more

Had a nice evening with my partner, we were a little pressed for time, had a movie to see after. the service is extremely fast, got two margaritas and two tacos each, we were in and out in 45 minutes and we made our movie. Great food with extremely fast service! And our server Paulina was amazing! read more

I've heard so much about Big Star and jumped at the chance to eat here before a day game at Wrigley. Three of us got there right at noon and only had to wait for them to finish opening the upper level. After that, we got a table immediately. Not surprisingly, the place was packed, even though this space is gigantic. We started with a pitcher of margaritas and some chips with guacamole. The chips also came with two types of salsa. The guacamole was decent, not the best I've had but definitely a great starter. I'm choosy about margaritas but these were good quality, no shit rail tequila here. While all the tacos were up my alley, I settled on one fish, one al pastor and one walking taco. All three were good choices although if pressed I would choose the al pastor as the winner just for the harmony of flavors it had going on. The walking taco was the spiciest of my three, which I love, but I know that's not for everyone. Everything I ordered lived up to the hype. Our table looked directly out onto the entrance of Wrigley Field. We could see the swarms of people entering as well as families playing on the grass just before security. They really secured a prime location here. We ended up ordering a second pitcher of margaritas and it was so nice to meander up to the ballpark at our own pace after the crowds had dissipated some. The place was nearly empty after first pitch, by the way! So if you've always wanted to try Big Star tacos but don't want to deal with insane waits or crowds, show up right after a Cubs game starts! read more

First time going to Big Star was at the Wrigleyville location for lunch during the 1:20 PM Cubs game so it was quite crowded. Even so we got a table fairly quick w the server being quite attentive. Getting to the table we started off w drinks- got a mango margarita but they forgot to add the mango and the hibiscus agua fresca even wout the mango both drinks were great! Afterwards we ordered the walking taco, papas con rajas and the big star nachos. Both the walking taco and Big Star nachos were amazing but I wasn't a huge fan of the papas con rajas definitely felt like there wasn't enough flavor and could be better. Overall had a pretty good experience! read more

Big Star - Papas con Rajas and The Walking Taco - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a whim to eat on a patio and thankfully they were able to accommodate a party of 2 outside. The restaurant has retractable windows throughout which was great. You check in and get your temperature checked and their menu is all online. The server was prompt and took care of us right away. We ordered 2 classic La Palomas, big star nachos, and a panza and al pastor taco. The food and drinks came out literally 5 minutes after we ordered it, which was impressive! The drinks were so refreshing and we ordered another round. The nachos were busy as they are filled with so many fixings (pico de gallo, guac, black beans, cheese, jalapeños, etc.) and we also had al pastor added. The tacos were okay personally. The al pastor taco was pretty good with the hints of pineapple, but my panza taco was a little too salty for my taste. Overall, paid $85 for good atmosphere, quick service, and yummy drinks, wouldn't mind coming back here again to try more drinks! read more

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I think Big Star is a decent option if you're in the Wrigleyville area. It's a big sports bar and can get easily crowded after Cubs games. Big Star is where I tried my first walking taco, and it was delicious! I also had the chicken taco (veryyy yummy), mushroom taco, and two of the other vegetarian tacos. They were all pretty flavorful. We shared a nachos appetizer, which had the perfect combo of savory, crunchy, and creamy. I also ordered a hibiscus cocktail, and it was really refreshing. When we were sitting outside on the wooden seating, we came across one really bad issue - there was definitely a spider infestation. We saw spiders all over the wood, and some were huge. We ended up moving our seats by ourselves because we were far too terrified. I hope Big Star finds a way to get rid of the spider infestation. Other than that, Big Star has usually been a decent option for me in Wrigley. read more

Big Star - Tacos assortment - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tacos for the W! Always! Great add to the Wrigley experience. Stopped before the game. Tacos, street corn and Palomas. Great open air spot across from the action. read more

Had a great time at dinner on a Friday night. The atmosphere was fun and lively but pretty loud. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas which were very refreshing but not quite strong enough. The chips and guac were tasty and very fresh and I liked the salsas that came with as well. I had the al pastor and the pollo tacos. Both were good but not great. The side of beans and the pickled veggies were both really good and made an awesome addition to my meal. Overall, the food was good but nothing too spectacular. I had fun though and would definitely go back to try other tacos! read more

Food was edible but that's the most we can offer. Menu extremely limited. Sides said "sour cream and hot sauce" Tacos came out in one big tray and was very hard to tel the difference between tacos. They all looked the same (and tasted the same). Don't order the "queso" fundido, please. Corn tortillas taste bland like made with cauliflower. Pitcher of marg advertised as 5 margs, barely got 4. Rather have mini corn dogs from Cubby Bear read more

This place is two levels. Fun place to watch people and sports games. Across the street from Wrigley Field. Good Mexican food and cervezas. read more

Big Star - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am Leaning 2.5 stars so rounded up. Went before a Cubs game. Ordered Queso fundido, nachos and margaritas. Everything was meh. Margs were good but small. The music was exceptionally loud and dark - an entire Ozzy Osborne album. I appreciate the dedication to the full vinyl but nonstop Ozzy on full blast is a mood killer to be sure. read more

Overall: Come for the tacos, then leave with them in hand instead of sticking around. Great food, not-so-great everything else. The good: Just like the Wicker location, the tacos here for the most part are spot on. They have more-or-less the same menu, and the staples of al pastor, tilapia, and chorizo are all top notch. And they don't break the bank either. The drink selections are a plenty, and you'll be certain to find something you like. The not-so-good: Our waitress was slow, rude, and unhelpful, which can really impact an experience. She was never around when we were ready to order, she didn't dive into much detail when asked about food items, she gave us sass and a stink eye when we requested to split the bill, and it was very clear that she didn't care overall. Additionally, this location isn't the same as Wicker, it's too loud and obnoxious in comparison. Food: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Service: 4/10 read more

Amazing Tacos!! My favorites are the pescado, panza, carne asada, and al pastor!!The queso fundido is a great appetizer choice!! I am all about the $3 tecates with a lime in it!!! The margaritas are really good too!! During game days; you better get there early! Big Star can get packed!! 1 in 1 out packed!! read more

One star for Big Star... Staying at the Hotel Zachary for an extended concert weekend at Wrigley Field. One of the 4 people who employees were attentive, personable, and friendly. The others, not so much... Ex: I accidentally knocked over a 1/4 glass of beer and apologized to the heavily bearded bartender and after two verbal apologies he kept looking at me like I killed his dog and did not respond with any words. Really dude?!? Our food was okay, but nothing special. We also asked a female bartender about the beer list concerning what was on tap. We asked which beer... she replied "the Seasonal." We asked again, what style beer is it, and she said, "I've already told you, the seasonal." Not every beer or seasonal is the same by every brewer, nor are they they the same style. We left after the appetizers and had better experience elsewhere. Just be cautious with expectations... there are plenty of options that have better pluses vs proximity. read more

Big Star - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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(English) When I came to Chicago, I heard that tacos are a big thing here. I've dedicated myself to try the most taco joints while my stay here. I've been to really good places, but Big Star stands out from the crowd. This is undoubtedly a taco joint you wouldn't want to miss. We ordered very tasty dishes and I have to admit that they were spectacular tacos packed with massive flavor. Starting by the soft corn tortillas and the tenderness of the meats and then all the tasty toppings was a party of flavors in your mouth. I recommend ordering the Tacos al Pastor and Taco de Carne Asada, both were really delicious with freshness and taste. Also, they have vegetarian options like the Tostada de Hongos which was amazing. I am not a vegetarian myself, but it was just as good or better than the tacos. Big Star has a great lively atmosphere, so ordering a drink would be a good idea! We ordered the Margaritas and draft beers and were both really good. Come by to try delicious tacos and drinks! (Español) Al venir a Chicago he escuchado que los tacos son una gran cosa aquí. Me he dedicado a probar la mayoría de los restaurantes de taco mientras estoy aquí. He estado en lugares realmente buenos, pero Big Star se destaca de la multitud. Esto sin duda es un restaurante de taco que no querrás perderte. Pedimos platos muy sabrosos y tengo que admitir que eran tacos espectaculares llenos de sabor. Comenzando por las suaves tortillas de maíz y la ternura de las carnes y luego todas los toppings sabrosos que ofrecen es una fiesta de sabores en tu boca. Recomiendo ordenar Tacos al Pastor y Taco Carne Asada, ambos fueron deliciosos con frescura y sabor. Además, tienen opciones vegetarianas como la Tostada de Hongos, que fue increíble. Yo no soy vegetariana, pero igual de bueno o mejor que los tacos. Big Star tiene un ambiente animado, por lo que pedir una bebida sería buena idea. Pedimos las margaritas y cervezas de barril y ambos estaban realmente buenos. Ven a probar deliciosos tacos y bebidas! read more

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