truly a staple place I go to anytime I come to the chi!!! the miche here are the best by far. their tacos are all fire. there are some also for the vegans and they are awesome also. I am not vegan and I will crush their papas con rajas tacos. I take them to go. their bourbon selection is fire also. come during the day. Jared the bartender is the best. very responsive! read more

Big Star is a casual Mexican place and has pretty good food and ambiance. I think it would be even better in the summer when the outdoor patio is open. The nachos were my favorite thing we ordered, the walking taco on the menu is unique and the tacos had a lot of filling but not my favorite tacos in the city. Our server was friendly and they brought a rice Krispy dessert for my friend's birthday that was really good, it tasted warm and freshly made. read more

Big Star - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We enjoy Big Star and frequently go but mainly because my fiancé is a big bourbon drinker and they have an extensive and reasonably priced bourbon and whiskey list. I'm not a bourbon drinker so I generally get a margarita. They are fine but I find their pre made margaritas to be a bit watered down. Still tasty but nothing to write home about. Their food is pretty limited. Mainly just tacos and a few other items. They're overpriced for the quality. We do like the walking taco though! But still there are better tacos in the area. Overall ambiance is fun. We usually can walk in and find open seating at the bar. However in the summer months when their big (dog friendly) patio is open the whole place seems to be packed. Plan ahead and make reservations if you're with a big group. Bourbon list and special events will keep us coming back. read more

Big Star - Old fashioned - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Big Star is usually my go to on Taco Tuesdays knowing that the pescado tacos won't disappoint. Their elotes and nachos are also a must try! Whether you dine indoors or out on the patio when it's warm, you'll get speedy and friendly service. Indoors can seem small quickly when crowded so you may end up in a large booth or their wraparound full bar. For fast Mexican street food and margs, they check all the boxes. Pro tip: yellow rose daiquiri--thank me later. read more

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Ordered delivery from Big Star tonight. It was fine. I really liked the nachos. Really good queso and lots of veggie toppings. The brussel sprout tostada was good - kinda like getting a side of grilled brussel sprouts with a tostada shell underneath. The shell was a bit soggy by the time I got it. Lastly I had the potato taco and I didn't really like that one. I was so full that honestly, I didn't even finish it. So the one thing is order again is the nachos. There didn't seem to be too many other veggie options in the menu anyway. read more

Veggie taco standouts: Walking taco Papas con rajas Coliflor Big Star is the place for tacos on the patio during summer time Chi! There's three locations but I've only ever been to the Wicker Park one. I'll say it's worth sitting indoors for the walking taco. Served in a frito lay bag, topped with a spicy pinto bean dip, crema, salsa, queso chihuahua, onion and cilantro - a party in your mouth! My non-vegetarian friend had a shrimp taco as well that she enjoyed! Chips and salsa were as addicting as they are anywhere but nothing to rave about. A margarita pitcher is a must! Service was fine. Our waiter would walk away before we could finish a sentence but it didn't affect the orders that were brought out. He seemed a bit distracted but we weren't all that bothered. Food arrived quickly. Street parking is typically easy to find right across by Violet Hour. Right by Damen blue line stop if your taking CTA. Affordable, no fuss meal! read more

It's a nice outdoor patio with dog friendly,the guy that was serving us was very nice and caring ,coming all the time to check if we are okay or if we want something.The pitcher of classic margarita it's good and a good deal for happy hour.They serve it with glass that have salt or if you are a spicy lover they bring the glass with spicy salt which it's a plus. The vibe it's nice especially in the summer time. read more

Big Star - Margarita pitcher - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for a late lunch and was seated immediately. Server was fantastic and everyone we interacted with was so kind and cheery! Chips and guac & salsa were so good My favorite taco is the panzo pork belly, I always get 3 of them. They're so flavorful. Will be back again! read more

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I love this place. It's been my favorite taco spot forever and the food is always amazing. The service is fast and friendly and the ambiance is very casual and welcoming. It's like coming home when I have tacos there and the food is always on point and consistent read more

Big Star - Brussels sprouts Brussels Sprout Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cool place to get some late night tacos and bourbon. The atmosphere is pretty chill with both indoor and outdoor seating. We had a couple tacos and a drink. The tacos come out pretty quick and were pretty good. They also have a great selection of bourbon. read more

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Big star is my new favorite taco place. You can just casually walk in without a reservation which is a relief since almost every other place requires a reservation these days. The walking taco is my absolute favorite. It's all the taco toppings inside a small Fritos packet. Such an interesting concept! The Papas con Rajas and the coliflor (it's spelled like this on their menu) are also great. The service is fast and the ambience is casual. They have a huge patio which they convert into a heated patio during the colder months. A must try in wicker park! read more

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Stoped by at Big Star for a super casual dinner with my boyfriend. It was Saturday around 6:00pm and the place poppin', I was glad we had a reservation in advance although I think we would've been sat quickly anyway. The front half outdoor half indoor patio is HUGE!! Seriously that's where most of the seating is; there's only a bar and pretty minimal seating inside. The service here was great - the host and our server were very friendly. Despite it being pretty dang busy, our server stopped in on us way more than I thought he would. The food here was alright - the chips & salsa were nothing special. I liked the barbacoa tacos the best, the al pastor were okay, and the fish tacos were kind of a let down although I did like the sauce that came on it. My cocktail was strong, too, and the prices were all super affordable which is always a plus. Overall I'd come here for the ambiance and outdoor patio, but not necessarily the food. Although it wasn't bad, it just wasn't significant. 4 fabulous stars for Big Star! read more

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TL;DR: Need takeout? Use their takeout window I came here for a quick drink and used their take out window for a marg. This was a quick and easy way to find a patio without a wait and solid drink. I would come back to try the food. The patio has lights above it which is perfect for a summers night with some good company read more

Big Star is a great spot especially if you are trying to dine out late at night. Their fish tacos are amazing! And their Brussels sprouts tostada wow so much flavor. Their potato tacos are delish too. Will definitely stopping by again. Parking: Street parking available read more

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With all the hype about Big Star, I expected a little more from the food but overall, we had a good experience here. The service was good. I liked that they gave you a full pitcher of water at the table. Def good vibes and a large patio, part under a cover and part in the sun, no wait, which was nice on a Saturday. The big draw here is the margaritas. I tried all three flavors and they were all solid. The strawberry is a little sweet but tasty. My favorite was the spicy mango, the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. Would def come back just for the margaritas. For the food - we got the chips & salsa to start. A little pricey for what you got but they did do refills. You have to pay for the habanero salsa which comes in a TINY cup of which was kinda silly... but the salsas have NO heat, so necessary in my book. Chips were solid. For tacos, I got the Barbacoa, the pollo, and the Al pastor. The pastor and Barbacoa had good flavor. The pollo was underwhelming and a little dry. If I came back I would prob just do margs and maybe an Al pastor. With so many taco options in the area, they def were average here so I'd prob try somewhere else. Now if you're looking for a good place for margaritas to hang and chat, then this would be it! read more

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In line since 8a for an event that started at 11a. The information given was very specific; first come, first served until the food runs out. Being 2nd in line gave me an opportunity to speak with Rodney and to watch him work. He is a very humble man with a sweet spirit and a true passion for bbq. I witnessed the hog being pulled off the grill and the hands that ripped the meat apart for serving. The aromas wafting in the air drew some pretty big crowds. My order included the pulled pork which was freaking AMAZING! The ribs, no sauce necessary. The chicken, juicy. Mac and cheese, just ok. cornbread, perfect. Not familiar with Rodney Scott, check out Chefs Table BBQ on Netflix. A big shout out to Big Star for hosting Rodney Scott your hospitality was incredible. read more

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We have eaten here before on a Saturday night and it was a zoo, I didn't review then but it would have been 3 stars because it took forever to get food, and was cold when we got it. But this time it was spot on. We loved everything we got, it was all hot and came out fast. So I averaged the two visits to be 4 stars read more

FINALLY crossed this place off my list. This place is always poppin' every time I pass by. It was such a nice time to hangout on a spring saturday evening while on a double date. The atmosphere was lively and busy. We got lucky and all the rain had passed so the temp. was cooler. Majority of the restaurant is outdoors - they have the bar area which is covered and then tables under a big awning + tables that aren't covered. Starters: To share we ordered the Big Star nachos and the queso fundido and it was more than enough for 4 people. For the nachos we added barbacoa for an extra cost. This was delicious! The chips were thick and crispy - perfect for scooping. Toppings included, queso, meat of choice, jalapeños, guac, and pico salsa. Super hefty. I forgot to snap a picture of the queso but it came in a small square plate with warm tortillas. The queso has chorizo mixed in it! Very yummy. Margaritas: The margs are strong here! We ordered 2 pitchers - one mango and one strawberry. I was already drunk after the first pitcher. Both tasted really good to me but my friends said they liked the strawberry better. It's also not super sweet which was nice. Tacos: Tacos were very good but not the best I've ever had. I wish they came with salsa or offered rice and beans as a side. I also wish they separated our orders instead of putting them all on one plate because it was kind of hard to distinguish between the different kinds. I chose 3 tacos - barbacoa, fish, and the pork belly. Out of those 3, the pork belly was my favorite. Overall, this is a fun place! I would def come back with a group of friends. read more

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I stopped by Big Star for a spontaneous quick-pick dinner. I ordered from the express window, that's adjacent to the restaurant. It is absolutely brilliant and convenient; especially for someone on the go who's looking to get some warm and tasty food within a matter of minutes. The vegan options are quite limited when it comes to the tacos - there's really only one option that can be veganized. I ordered the Tacos con papas (without the queso fresco) and a side of chips and salsa. I quite enjoyed these bites! There's just something spectacular about the combination of well seasoned potatoes, the freshness and bite of cebollas y cilantro, and the succulence of a corn tortilla. The tortilla chips were also fresh and paired perfectly with salsas. Overall, I would recommend this spot to anyone looking to grab some good tacos on the go. Although the vegan options are limited, there are still options - which especially is nice when going out to eat in large groups and being concerned about finding something on the menu to eat. read more

Big Star - Stacks of salsas - the salsa verde was my favorite of the two - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bloody Mary: 6.5/10 Taco Al Pastor: 7/10 (Tortilla was slightly bland and hard) Taco Carne Asada: 9/10 (This was great, no complaints) The server was a great guy, very kind. read more

Um, this place is amazing!! Situated at the Northern corner of Wicker Park (the actual park), Big Star features a large outdoor patio dining area that is often populated by a happy buzz of people. I've often passed by during a walk around the neighborhood, drawn in by the casual ambience of the outdoor patio with red string lights, yummy looking food on people's tables, and pitchers of cocktails. So glad we decided to stop here during one of those walks! There's a ton of seating, so even though there were lots of people eating there on a Friday evening, we were seated immediately. The server was prompt and friendly. The two of us ordered nachos with al pastor to share, and that was such a great deal considering the price, quality, and amount of food! We were so pleasantly satiated after clearing the plate. The tortilla chips were an excellent vessel for all the nacho toppings. The al pastor was very very good! Juicy, savory, tender, and with just the right amount of sweetness. The cheese! The cheese was a great consistency, creamy and not too thick and not too runny. It almost looks like sour cream but packed great flavor. And then the salsa seca!!! What!?! I've never had salsa seca before and never on nachos. The best way I can describe it is that it is like a Mexican chili oil/chili crisp, with fried nuts and seeds, and wowww the flavor! It added such a unique dimension to these nachos. I never thought I would write a whole paragraph on nachos but here it is. Come try it people! :) read more

Big Star - Nachos with al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Definitely an iconic Chicago taco spot. There's good tacos and drinks, and a huge patio. Perfect for enjoying summer! I got an al pastor and a panza taco, and split the big star nachos with friends. Both tacos were super tasty and flavorful, but I felt like they were too expensive for what it was. The nachos were good and definitely a great item to share with a group since there was so much. They put a ton of cilantro on them though (and I'm not a huge fan) so just a warning if you don't like cilantro. I'd say this is probably a spot where you come more for the big patio and drinks vs the food. But it's a good hang out spot and gets pretty lively on evenings and weekends. read more

Big Star - Taco al Pastor, Taco de Panza, Big Star Nachos in a pizza box - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

$7 tacos...i guess if you lose less than 1/2 your customers you're still coming out ahead

This is more of a 3 1/2, if I'm being honest. The service was great. Our party of 5 got taken to our table quickly, we got water promptly, and the waitress was always around to get our order or whatever we needed. We all had a round of the Blueberry Collins, which was very good. We had an assortment of tacos show up; al pastor, fish, shrimp, pork belly. We had no problems with those. But...the birria. "Beef birria, crispy jack cheese, heirloom blue corn masa, consume, pico de gallo, cilantro" No. So much no. Birria is heavenly, once you've had it. Good meat, tangy flavor, and a cup of consume to dip it in. This was an abomination, even more so that I've had quesabirria before and was really in the mind for it. This was an abomination I'm sure passes the WP sniff test, but in no way, shape, form, or function was this worthy of being even called birria if you know better. Now, to get some authentic birria tacos down here. read more

The food is amazing & we had the best waiter in the industry! Our waiter Adrian was absolutely wonderful, so knowledgable & so kind! Will definitely be going back, if only for the incredible service! read more

This is definitely one of the best taco spots in Chicago. We ordered the el pastor (pork) fish, chicken and Brussel sprouts tacos. I love them all. My favorite-must have is the el pastor and the fish. The food comes out lightening fast which I love. We sat outside (mid January) and they had plenty of heaters so it's sparse and warm so Covid friendly-ish. Our server was helpful and friendly enough. There is a full bar for beers and cocktails. They check IDs and Covid vaccination cards at the door which is nice. Parking is a bit of a chore in that area so be prepared to drive around. read more

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Been here several times, so I'm surprised I haven't left a review before! Every experience I've been here has been relatively the same, so at least they're consistent. Food is average, good flavors, decent quality. I usually get their Al Pastor, Shrimp, and Panza tacos. My bf usually gets Barbacoa, Pescado, and Panza tacos. Recently, we came in for a quick bite, so we skipped the tacos and shared Elote and Big Star Nachos, which we really enjoyed. Charred corn, crispy tortilla chips, melty queso, generous guac, and a hint of smokey (salsa seca)- Yum!! We especially like to come for their large outdoor patio (dog friendly)! read more

Big Star - Big Star Nachos, Elote, spicy margarita, house ranch water - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had some BOMB ass nachos and a great margarita. It was pretty loud, but service was amazing. Looking forward to going back to try more menu items, but this wouldn't be my first stop for Mexican food. A little pricier than I'm used to for Mexican food, as well. read more

Big Star - Nachos with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Interesting place in Wicker Park. It was crowded and popular, but the food was basic and not particularly amazing. Who is recommending their tacos? The server was very nice, but the door host was full of haterade, babbling about a long wait no one else seemed to have... mitigated only by the sympathetic looks from her male coworker. There were ample tables in the bar area. read more

We come here often! Always good food. Chips have a strong lime flavor. Guac is delicious. We've tried all of the tacos. My fav is the pescado. The fish is light & flaky. Margaritas are strong & good. We love the outside patio's vibe. Great people watching. Service is always good too. read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How does anyone give big star anything less than 5 stars? The drinks, food, and vibes are all immaculate. We love this spot! It's been a go-to for over a decade and will continue to be. Love the queso fundido, walking tacos, and pescando tacos - some of our faves!! Also best Paloma (but you can't go wrong with any drink). Jared the bartender is the best!!! Z read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I feel like I've been hearing about Big star for so many years, but could never justify making the trip just for tacos. I know.. what kind of person won't make a trip for tacos?! I wouldn't say that these absolutely lived up to the hype that Big Star has built up, but I am glad that I finally made it here. Do yourself a favor and if you like pork belly, double down and get as many as humanly possible. Get some to stick in your pocket for later - and then thank me after. It was quite possibly the best pork belly taco that I've had. The other tacos were good, but just not as memorable. The food is a little on the expensive side, but compared to some other things in the area, I feel like you're getting a pretty good deal. Big Star gets BUSY. So if you're thinking about coming, make a reservation as a precaution. We didn't, but we were lucky to get a small table. Overall this is a solid place for a casual and filling meal. read more

This was a perfect place for a girls night. We went on a Friday and were glad we had reservations because the patio was loud and busy! Service was super quick for a variety of street tacos with plenty of vegetarian options--my favorite was the Brussel Tostada. Also highly recommend the hibiscus Fresca! Service was friendly and unexpectedly quick despite the crowd. read more

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So there's a few things 1) the food comes insanely fast! We literally placed our order for chips, salsa, guac and queso and by the time the waiter turned to walk away a food runner was at our table to deliver it. 2) be aware they can't split checks. The can divide the check evenly but they cannot itemize it--so fast technology but apparently not the smartest. 3) I placed an order for chips and salsa and also queso. I figured they would bring me chips for each order--instead we only got one small basket of chips that all four dips were placed in. To get more chips you have to order the chips and salsa. So the food was good--thought they were stingy on the chips. The tacos that my friends had they enjoyed but for an order of dips, 6 tacos, a modelo and a sun king beer coming to $80--mehhhh. They also charged a $2 hospitality fee? Our waiter only came by like 3 times and never offered us more drinks or asked. They seem to be about that table turning on the quickness. So I'm glad I tired it, but seems a bit overpriced. And I still can't get over the they can't split a check! read more

Mmmm -- I've always walked by Big Star, but it's about time I've finally made a visit! It was everything I hoped for creative & savory tacos, specially (and strong) cocktails, and great customer service! The patio seating is wonderful and the atmosphere is upbeat. This is the perfect spot for a happy hour or taco Tuesday! read more

Big Star - a plate of tacos and a drink on a wooden table - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is awesome! Convenient outdoor and indoor seating plus the bar. The tacos are delicious! I recommend the tacos Al Pastor and Carne Asada which has guacamole. The bartender/server Sofia is the best! Very attentive, diligent, dedicated and friendly! She gave me great recommendations! Love the margaritas she makes. Very smooth and refreshing! I highly recommend these margaritas! I look forward to going to Big Star in Wicker Park! Thank you Big Star and thank you Sofia! read more

You can never go wrong with tacos from Big Star! My favorite taco is the Taco de Panza, which has crispy pork belly topped off with queso fresco - what a great combo! The chips and guac were tasty as well. read more

Big Star - Chips & Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here tonight with a friend for a last-minute dinner. It was a cooler night, so it wasn't too crowded, but there were a decent amount of people there. We were thisclose to ordering drinks because they all looked so good and almost every other table there had a pitcher, but we decided not to ball out too hard (next time for sure though!). Instead, we just got the fish tacos, tacos dorados, and the potato tacos. I've gotta say, I liked them all! I think I'd have to pick the fish taco as my favorite, but the potato was a close second, and they paired nicely. The tacos dorados were these crunchy fried tacos stuffed with mushrooms and were pretty good, but I don't think I'd order them again. I will say this place is quite expensive for tacos. They're all around $5 each, and I almost got the carne asada taco since they said it was the special for taco Tuesday, but it was $6! Definitely not worth the spend in my opinion, although I didn't try it. If you're looking for a cheap option, the potato taco was only $3.50 and came with a side of salsa -- very good deal if you ask me. read more

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Nice restaurant that offers Mexican food and beverages in Wicker Park. They have seating indoors as well as outdoors - we sat outdoors. The ambiance was pretty laid back and the service was prompt. We ordered chips and salsa - we got 2 salsas , green and red. The salsas were delicious, but the chips were a bit too salty. We also ordered Margarita and Whiskey Mule, both we delish. Had a nice time at the restaurant! read more

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This was a great stop with spacious outdoor dining, excellent service, and tasty tacos. Loved it! read more

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