I hate writing reviews for a place with more than a few hundred write-ups as there is usually little to add.... and Big Star has more than 1200. I grabbed a quick lunch last week while on assignment in the area. Never been carded before having tacos? Must be the suburban boy in me! Once I got in and seated at the bar, service was good, ended up working with a few different folks. Quickly tossed aside the whiskey list... even if I wasn't working, I'd have done that, I was just there for the al pastor and as it turned out the Queso Fundido! Hard to go wrong with chorizo or al pastor! I probably should have done just the al pastor tacos or just the Fundido, it was too much food for one person (had two tacos). Everything was pretty solid, tacos could have been a bit hotter (temp not spice), but overall a nice experience. Wish I'd had more time to soak up some atmosphere, but had to keep working. Definitely worth a shot if you're in the mood for Mexican and are strolling about WP. read more

Without even reading the other reviews, I'm sure others will capture the essence of Big Star better than I can. I went for lunch two days ago with my wife and a friend; we order all five tacos on the menu, and all five were great. Big Star's prices are a tad high given what you can get at other taco joints nearby but the quality of the ingredients is admittedly high. The surprise for us was the tostada; I can't explain why I loved it, but it was something different and very tasty. The guac was great and for once, a place served their guac with enough chips to eat it all (why can't more places think to do this??). My $3 Schlitz brought it all home. When you go for lunch and it's winter, it seems like the hipster ratio is significantly decreased, and that worked well for me. Curious to see how it goes when it warms up. read more

Its this simple... Good eats, good drinks, good people! Many of nights I left with a full belly and a slight tilt in my walk from drinking! YASS! read more

I came here on a weekday afternoon for lunch and I had no problem getting a table for four. Although there's only street parking, it wasn't a huge issue either--I just circled around the block and found parking nearby. I ordered two tacos de pollo (chicken tacos) to see what all the hype was about and although the tacos were decent, I would not drive all the way back here just for overpriced tacos. 2-3 tacos would probably be enough, but you should order 4 tacos if you're famished. read more

Great tacos, ambiance is average in the winter but would be great in the summer with the outdoor patio. Service was nice and fast - almost too fast. We ordered chips and guacamole (which was quite overpriced for what you get) and less than a minute later our tacos came out. Would have liked some time to enjoy the chips before the tacos since we didn't want the tacos to get cold. Note: check ids at the door, cash only. read more

The first time I came here I loved it. The second time, not so much, so I averaged the two scores. The first time I was expecting to wait a really long time, but I think it was around 30-40 minutes. Margaritas were good and so was the queso fundido. We ordered one of each taco to try and enjoyed them all! This last time I was a little disappointed. We waited almost two hours for a table. They do take your number and text you when it's ready, but they refused to give any kind of estimate as to how long you have to wait.we were finally seated, but I was not fond of our table. We were seated right near the entrance to the inside so it was super loud from the music and noise coming from the bar. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and chips and guac to start. The chips and guac were on the table almost immediately. The pitcher came and the guy slowly distributed ice from the pitcher into our glasses, spilling on me as he went. No one wants to go out to eat and get spilled on by a server. We ordered our tacos- 3 pork belly, 2 al pastor, 1 potato, 1 fish, 1 chicken and 1 beef. The two winners were the al pastor and the chicken. No one was impressed with the rest. My fish taco was burnt on one end. The pork belly was just not good. I couldn't even finish it. So overall I felt the my second experience was completely different from the first. There are other places to get good tacos and it doesn't require such a long wait. Things to note- cash only, there is an ATM on site if you forget. They do have a takeout window and an area where you can sit and eat, but no alcohol service. read more

See all

The food is amazing, the service is spectacular, the vibe is eclectic and unpretentious hipster, the prices are reasonable, the drinks are great, and it's always crowded in an exciting sort of way. The cons: the cash only part is off-putting (everyone always speculates if there are illegal workers in the kitchens), they were out of their pumpkin flavored beer when I asked, the big star margarita was decent but I've had better. Overall, it did live up to the hype and was a great experience, but it could have been better. read more

Holy Fuck these were the best tacos ever. I'm glad Mike and Jess took me here. YEAHHHHHH. read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After failing to understand the process of how the Violet Hour worked across the street, we headed over to Big Star, which looked quite inviting with the large outdoor space in the front of the establishment. We found out quickly that they were owned by the same people and we took a seat in the outdoor area of big star. We didn't eat a full meal; however, we had the queso dip with tortilla which by the way was awesome! We also had drinks, which we thought were also amazing. The servers were efficient and we loved how there never needed to be a check printed. Everything was done portably on the Ipads which were brought to your table. I loved everything about this place, and if I lived in the area -- I would be out here quite frequently in good weather. read more

Good tacos , pork was my fave . Good drinks . Seating can be challenging. Fun atmosphere. Would come back again. read more

Big Star - pork tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place for a quick stop, or for a long hang out. Great tacos and fabulous bar. Service is outstanding. Price is reasonable and location is great. Highly recommend! read more

"I can't believe I had never been here before" So yes... it is crowded.. and yes it is cash only.. and yes it can take you a while to get a drink or place your order, but once those things come together, this place is awesome. This is definitely the place where patience is a virtue. I thought the drinks were tasty and the variety of tacos was really good too. I had the fish tacos, the veggie tacos, and the chicken tacos.. all pretty tasty and the side salsas are good too. The place is high-energy and inviting with the huge outdoor sitting area and open air/bright light bar area. I would totally go back! read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can't believe this place doesn't have 5 stars. This is my all time favorite place to go during the summer due to the food, drinks, and atmosphere. Service is great, tacos are perfect, and the margaritas are (although pricey) the best! A must try for all taco lovers but expect to be paying a large check (but always worth it) read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sat outside on the patio for dinner and got Chips and salsa, a chicken taco, a shrimp taco and a couple of margaritas. The meal was delicious and there food came out very quick. However, the service was a little slow and the bill was a little pricey (was about $50 for my meal in total). read more

We had such a great experience at Big Star! The location as loud on a Saturday night, to be expected, but the food was awesome. I loved how inventive they were with some of their veg options. Parking is always a hit or miss in the area, but no biggie, you're in Chicago. I also thought the marg's were some of the best I've had in the area. read more

After 5 years of discovering Big Star, we somehow always make it a habit to grab a bite here either after a night in wicker or even as a break while still in wicker park. Tacos I've tried: panza, al pastor, alambre de res (steak), pescado, and pollo I always get a mix of fish tacos and then depending on my mood it's always a toss up between panza (pork belly) and the al pastor (marinated pork and pineapple). Always busy here, food is reliably satisfying, price is slightly $$, but service is quick, I'll see you again next time I'm in town! read more

Big Star - pescado and panza - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I use to love big star in wicker park! The staff were always nice, this was my spot for tacos.... BUT they decided to change the flavor of their chicken tacos, and it is horrible. The walking taco is good and fish tacos are great as well, hopefully they didn't change that either. In my opinion, they should've just kept the same recipe for the chicken tacos but it sucks because the margaritas were actually bomb. read more

This is a review of the atmosphere, chips and salsas, and Margaritas! I had the opportunity to visit Chicago's Wicker Park area in the beginning of June 2011. This also happened to be when a huge heat wave came to the area. Luckily on a day where we were walking the neighborhood, we came across Big Star. It looked cool, sounded cool, and had in door and outdoor space on this VERY HOT DAY. Pitcher of margs was amazing and the chips were yummy. We must have sat for about 2 hours and nobody tried to move us along. Granted it was 1pm on a Monday, but there was quite a crowd there and they were all LOVING their food and the company. All of that being said, the food LOOKED DELISH and I am sorry that we didn't have room to try it. I am even more upset that we do not have a spot like this back in Brooklyn, NY. We have tons of outdoor places, but nothing comes close to the laid back and yummy atmosphere of Big Star. read more

Big Star - Traditional margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"You were on No Reservations, right?" The man turned and said no and that I was mistaken. Feeling stupid, I turned away and went back to my drink. A couple of seconds later, he said, "Yes, I was. I was just kidding. Hi, I'm Paul." It was Paul Kahan of Blackbird, Avec, and Publican. Next to him was his partner, Terry Alexander. To me, this was a celebrity moment. Paul Kahan and Terry Alexander are two big names in Chicago and I was star struck. "We're a taco joint.," They both suggested the pork belly and al pastor tacos. I ordered the pork belly, al pastor, and fish tacos and all three were stellar. It was the perfect balance of flavor and textures. The smooth queso fresco and the crisp shaved radish went perfect together. The story doesn't finish there. Although the patio was closed, we snuck our drinks outside past security. We join a group of women who were enjoying tacos on the benches. Terry comes out and says, "You can't have drinks outside since the patio is closed." My friend gulps down his beer and then hands his glass to Terry right in front of his face. My heart began to race thinking that we were going to be kicked out and banned to ever step foot into Big Star.Terry didn't say anything but I could tell he was annoyed. Terry, thank you for not kicking us out or banning us from your establishment. I'm sorry for my friend's behavior. read more

Big Star all around is an experience. They serve good food, but you do go for the drinks and the crowd. We came here on weeknight and this place was choked, there are few tables, so you are mostly standing around waiting for a table, unless u are just drinking and you don't care. We lucked out and started to talk to one of the servers, and she hooked us up with a table, it was awesome, but others weren't so lucky and were just watching, to pounce on a free table. We both had a margarita and tacos. Their tacos are served on corn tortillas which i love. They tasted super fresh and flavourful, i loved the crispy pork belly and fresh pineapple that accompanied it as well. Overall Big Star is really young and hip, if you don't fall into those categories than Big Star is probably not the place for you. read more

Big Star - Fish and Pork Belly Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've really only been here after day drinking, and it's usually one of the later stops in the day. We went up to the little window and sat at the picnic tables, perfect for summer time Chi casual bites between bars. Yesterday I had the fish tacos, I wasn't that hungry so I only ordered one. I got back in line for a second because it was so good. The fish was very lightly fried and the toppings that went with it were light but flavorful. read more

Big Star - Fish taco! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are a few things that you must know before you consider going to Big Star. The wait will always, always, always be over an hour. It doesn't matter if you go during the week, on the weekend, or in the winter, there is always a huge wait. But, the food and drinks are amazing, so it's well worth it. Big Star is pretty close to where I live, so similar to Piece, I most often just order tacos to go from the carryout window. When I do that, I love to pop inside for a margarita to kill the 20 minutes it takes for the tacos to be ready. I had a friend in town on a Monday night, and we decided we had enough to catch up on that we would enjoy a pitcher of margaritas and brave the wait. The hostesses are always the most friendly of the staff and accommodate people as best they can. We waited against the back wall by the bar where there is a ledge and stools, which makes it a little more bearable. After about an hour, we were finally seated and ordered the guacamole. It is always so fresh and delicious. I ordered two fish tacos and a potato taco. I should never ever stray from the fish tacos because they are always out of this world. Love them! Even though the wait is ridiculous, I still love Big Star. read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Today's Happy Hour brought Big Star into my life. I was excited already since we weren't getting the same old Papa Johns pizza that we usually get. Big Star set up a build your own taco buffet. There were tortillas, seasoned potatoes, chicken, steak, sour cream, onions, salsa, and other toppings galore. There were also plentiful chips so you could build your own taco dip if you so desired. The food was delicious. This really makes me want to visit the actual location in Wicker Park. read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I personally think Big Star is over-hyped, and much of the experience is the atmosphere as much as it is the food, but it's solid Mexican food. I live in Dallas now though, so I've become pickier about my tex-mex. It's not that it's not good, it's just not great. And, the cash only thing is rather annoying. Guac, Queso Fundido, Tacos, they're all good, but nothing I haven't had elsewhere, either. read more

See all

Another spot that was really close by to where I was staying in Chicago was big star taco. Recently I have been in a huge taco crunch. I can't get enough. Walking in I was eating alone so I decided to sit at the bar. I was the only one. Thus I got a lot of attention from the servers and they were really nice to me. One was joking with me about taking pictures and it not being allowed. She must've noticed that I was in from Chicago. But hey a bloggers got to do what a bloggers got to do. To eat I had three tacos. I had the taco de pescado, taco de pollo pibil and the taco de chorizo verde. The fish taco had a beer battered tilapia fillet, chipotle mayo, cabbage, red onion, lime and cilantro. It was very good; I added a little bit of one of the sauces to add additional flavor. The chicken taco was quite good too; it had chicken thighs steamed in banana leaves with citrus marinade, pickled red onions and cilantro. My favorite, however, was the chorizo taco. It had pork sausage, poblano, serrano, pumpkin and sesame seeds, potato, onion and cilantro and had quite the kick. I absolutely loved it. I love satisfied having had only three tacos and having spent 10 bucks on tacos. That was a win in my book. For anyone who's looking to come in please know that it's cash only. read more

See all

Thus was our first meal while in Chicago for a long weekend. It was highly recommended by a local friend. The service was Super fast and friendly! Had the chips/salsa with guac to start. The chips were fresh, crispy and the guac had a bunch of lime, which I love. We tried 6 different tacos ($4 each). My favorites were the fish (#1) and the shredded steak. My husband's favorite was the chicken. The walking taco was a fun idea but needed some ground meat or something in it to break up all the cheese and sour cream. I had a virgin paloma to drink which was awesome. It was like grapefruit lemonade. I would go back just for the guac and paloma! Saw they allow dogs out in the patio area and gave them water bowls, which is cool. Missing my pooch. read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have always loved Big Star until tonight- ordered two fish tacos through Door Dash and found multiple hairs in my taco. Sickening. I truly, truly, TRULY don't understand how hair can get into food unless a kitchen is completely unsanitary. I expected more from such a reputable place. Gross. read more

Big Star - Hugs hairs in my fish taco! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came to Big Star with some friends who were local. I do not live in Chicago and we wanted to bar hop around the Wicker Park area. We went on a Saturday night around 8pm and we only waited 30 minutes. We went to the bar and got margaritas and shots of tequila which were decently priced. The margaritas were strong and I loved that! Our group of 5 was seated in a booth and we ordered the chips and guacamole which was delicious. We also split two pitchers of margaritas which was such a deal. I ordered the pork and steak tacos and they were good! This isn't an authentic taco experience but this place was trendy and had a cool vibe. We had a lot of fun and the food came out quicker than I expected. If I'm ever in Chicago again I would go back! read more

See all

It is correctly named as Mexican street food. Similar to tacos from a food truck. That's probably why I enjoyed them so much. We sat outside. Beautiful nite. Patio was dog friendly. Service ok. Very busy. Could of used more servers. We shared seven different menu items plus guacamole. Enjoyed my experience overall. I am not much of a beer person but our two experts were very satisfied. read more

Pretty good tacos hot sauce very spicy I wasn't expecting that kick But good on the tacos read more

My first impression - Saturday night - the place was packed - wait time 2:30 - 3:00 hours. Of course we turned around and went some place else. Tried again on a Monday evening - the place was buzzing but there were plenty of empty tables. We got 2 spot at the bar right away. The hostess was extremely RUDE, was standing at the entrance and completely ignored us. We approached her and she couldn't care less, so we just seated ourselves at the bar. This place is perfect for hanging out with friends after work. It has a fully stocked bar and a very limited menu. Just tacos, chips and guacamole and some other tex-mex appetizers. We started out with the chips and guacamole. Surprisingly the guacamole was good. Having lived in CA for 7 years I am very picky about my Mexican food. Luckily this place passed :) The service was super quick. We got out food in less that 10 minutes. Both the fish and chicken tacos were delicious. The fish tacos definitely had more flavor. The chicken tacos were topped with Cotija cheese and pickled red onions. Everything was flavorful and appetizer size. It's definitely a fun place, its loud, had good music, good mexican food and a very casual atmosphere. It does get very very crowded on the weekend and the wait times are insane. Worth the wait - probably not! The best time to go is during the week after work. They do cash only!! read more

See all

Big Star has somewhat of a cult following here in Chicago and when you stop in it's not hard to see why. The large bar area inside is flooded with natural light and the outdoor seating makes this the perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful day in the windy city. Oh...and the food and drinks are pretty darn good too! I've tried all the tacos here at Big Star (my favorites are the Al Pastor that's topped with pineapple and the fish) and they're all packed with tons of great flavor. I'm also a big fan of their guacamole, the Walking Taco served in a Fritos bag, the GIANT Sonoran Hot Dog and the Queso Fundido. They also have a nice variety of margaritas and craft beers (Three Floyds Gumballhead) if you're looking to get your drink on. Unfortunately the service is usually a miss and the fact that they're cash only is a little annoying. Also...their tacos are good, but not my favorite in city. When I'm in the mood for the atmosphere I'll stop in but otherwise, I'm getting my taco fix elsewhere. read more

See all

This rating is really a 3.5 stars. The tacos are cheap (cash only) and delicious, but the wait is often ridiculously long. Came here with a big group so we tried most of the taco varieties, my favorite was the Tacos de Panza (pork belly). I've come here a few times prior trying to get in and the wait was too long so we just opted to come back another time. Final verdict: good tacos, cheap prices, worth trying...but not worth waiting a long time to try. Go during slow hours! read more

Big Star - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I loved Big Star!!! Our neighbors hyped it up so we DEFINITELY had to go. I was very excited to see that they had things on the menu that appeared to be vegan or could be made vegan. To my delight, our awesome server helped me pick out the mushroom tacos and the walking taco. They were totally cool in letting us chill out for a few hours, reordering the awesome food! :) Definitely recommend Big Star and will bring my friends and family here, for sure! read more

Big Star - The patio - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best burger joint around. My husband always look forward to the opening and have to be there in the final day of the season. His favorites root beer in a cold frosted jug, cheese curds and cheese burger. Good fast food eats. read more

So happy I finally got to check out the famous Big Star! On a warm Sunday afternoon it seemed very busy, but we only had to wait around ~15 minutes so the wait was not bad at all. We got a pitcher of the margaritas which were pretty good for classic and on the rocks. I'm usually not a fan of classic or on the rocks but this was good. I wish they had flavor options like mango or strawberry, but they don't. You can only choose from Mezcal (smokier tequila) or the spicy version (they mix chillies into your drink). The chips and salsa were good. I'd say the quality of the chips were better than the salsa they give you. You get two tiny bowls of regular salsa and salsa verde. Definitely not enough for all the chips you get. I got the beer battered fish and carne asada taco. The fish taco was AMAZING! The carne asada was good, but I've had better at the taco joint and other places. The atmosphere is what makes this place so nice. Even if you sit inside you get some sunlight from the roof window so it doesn't feel like you're sitting indoors. I wouldn't come here when I'm starving though because I'd probably eat way too many tacos and spend too much. One taco is about ~$4. Some are a little more, some a little less. They are tiny though. I'd definitely come here again. My cousin from Houston said the tacos here are better than anything he has had there at a similar spot. read more

Meh. So much hype and so much disappointment. The first turn off for this place? The service was rude. Like, beyond rude from the moment we walked up and asked for a table. When we were seated, the waiter seemed bothered by me asking for a second menu when there was only one at our table. And both menus were covered in something sticky. Gross? When I asked for recommendations, stating it was our first time there, the guy said "uh we have tacos, I don't know." Cool. My boyfriend also noticed a Spanish misspelling in their menu. Really, we should have left then! But I continued to be optimistic, always my pitfall. I ordered three different tacos that looked the best, and my boyfriend ordered a fourth. He also ordered a horchata, and when it came it was super grainy and bitter. When the tacos came, they weren't much better. The tortillas were sad and store-bought, and the fillings didn't have a lot of flavor. They were small and for $3.50 to $4 each, they were a bit of a let-down. I love potato tacos in almost any way shape or form, but these were soo oily and gross. I came in hopes of some great tacos and left wondering why this place is so popular! The restaurant was packed, but between the rude service and average-at-best food, I'll get my taco fix elsewhere. read more

We hired the Big Star taco truck for our employee appreciation party and it was a huge hit! We had 3 types of tacos and chips & guac- everything was amazing and our employees couldn't of been happier! The guys serving on the truck were super nice and professional. I was already a fan of the restaurant and now I definitely recommend the taco truck for your next event as well! read more

Stopped here for some tacos and drinks at a late night business meeting. Always a favorite even as the weather is cooler. Looking forward to warmer days and fewer restrictions. read more

Great tacos. I highly recommend the pork, chicken and fish tacos. Even though it was busy staff was very friendly and attentive. If you are a taco lover and like a little bar scene. This is the place for you. read more

Big Star - Taco Heaven - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all