Tasty authentic tacos that come out quickly. Service was great! I'll be back to try the ribeye tacos!

Top 3 Best taco place in Chicago! They're flavorful and filling. Definitely a place you will crave and go back to. The place is unassuming, reminds me of being in Mexico. Tell your friends, but only if they're not from the Northside. Keep this secret on the Southside! read more

Carniceria Maribel - Chicago, IL: The Hidden Taqueria That Just Punched Way Above Its Weight Class I almost don't want to write this review because I selfishly want Carniceria Maribel to stay my little secret, but greatness this pure deserves to be shouted from rooftops. Walk past the meat cases and coolers in this unassuming little carniceria on the Southwest Side and you'll find a tiny taqueria counter that is quietly serving some of the best tacos and tortas in the entire city. No hype, no neon signs, no influencer photos, just pure, soul-satisfying Mexican flavor. The tacos de cecina are an absolute revelation: thinly sliced, salt-cured beef that's griddled until the edges caramelize and curl, then piled into steaming corn tortillas with cilantro, onion, and a salsa verde so bright it makes your eyes water in the best way. Salty, chewy, beefy perfection. The al pastor is spun and shaved to order from the trompo out back: juicy, pineapple-kissed pork with that perfect char, stacked high and dripping. One bite and you're transported straight to Mexico City. But the torta de asada? Holy mother of God. A toasted bolillo overflowing with juicy, thinly sliced grilled steak, melted Oaxaca cheese, creamy avocado, beans, lettuce, tomato, and just enough mayo and jalapeños to make it messy in the most glorious way. It's the size of your forearm and costs less than a fancy coffee downtown. Everything is made fresh, portions are insane, prices are stuck in the 90s, and the ladies behind the counter treat you like family. Grab some carne for home while you're at it; the quality is ridiculous. Carniceria Maribel isn't trying to be trendy. It's just quietly, consistently, outrageously delicious. Tacos de cecina, pastor, and that torta de asada are now permanently in my top 5 in Chicago. Do yourself (and your taste buds) a massive favor and go tomorrow. Five stars isn't enough. This place is a treasure. read more

Carniceria Maribel - Tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Carniceria Maribel isn't just a butcher shop; it's a South Side cathedral of carne asada, a place where weekends officially begin on Friday afternoon and the line for tacos stretches out the door for very good reason. You walk in and the smell hits you like a hug from your favorite tía: charred carne asada on the plancha, fresh corn tortillas spinning on the press, and that unmistakable perfume of grilled onions and cilantro. The cases are a work of art: ruby-red arrachera marinated and ready for your grill, thin-sliced diez y seis for tacos al pastor, handmade longaniza glowing red with achiote, and the brightest, most perfect cecina you'll find north of Jalisco. But let's be honest: most of us aren't even making it home with raw meat. The taquero in the corner is a wizard. Three tacos de asada (doble tortilla, please) with a squeeze of lime and their smoky salsa roja will ruin every other street taco for you forever. The carne asada is juicy, perfectly salted, with that caramelized crust that only comes from a screaming-hot grill and decades of practice. Add a Styrofoam cup of their spicy consomé for dipping and you've reached peak happiness for under ten bucks. Everything else is ridiculous too: al pastor shaved straight off the trompo at dinner time, crispy tripitas if you know to ask, and tamales on the weekends that sell out before noon. The salsa bar is legendary (try the avocado-tomatillo green one; thank me later), and the ladies at the counter know your order before you even open your mouth. Cash only, zero pretense, maximum flavor. Bring an empty stomach, a cooler for meat to take home, and zero shame about going back for a second (or third) round. Carniceria Maribel isn't just the best taquería on the South Side; it's one of the best in the entire city, hidden in plain sight inside a butcher shop. If you leave Chicago without eating here, you played yourself. Friday can't come soon enough. See you in line, fam. read more

I'm here a couple of times a month. Everything is fantastic! This is a go to for me! Fav pastor in the city and the asada is a close second! read more

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The food is AMAZING! I decided to stop by for a late lunch and I was not disappointed. The restaurant is located in the back of a convenience store, so I was a bit apprehensive. That soon passed once I was warmly greeted. I ordered a Ribeye Burrito, Chorizo Tacos, and a Chicken Torta. The Ribeye is the clear winner across the board. I definitely will be going back to get another burrito or Ribeye Torta (the bread was so soft)! read more

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My beef with the New York City taco scene is biblical. I'm so tired of paying $5+ for a one bite taco. It's against the whole ethos of the taco. The humble taco has its beginnings as a street food meant to feed workers, families, and travelers at an accessible price. Walk into a Tacombi today and they look you dead in the eye and charge you $5.99 for a tiny chicken tinga taco. What has happened to the great and powerful taco? I know I'm probably being dramatic, as no one else I talk to gets this emotional charged over Taco-gate like I do, but I can't help how I feel. All this to say, I approached Carniceria Maribel in Chicago ready for my hope to be restored. I had no idea Chicago had such a large Mexican population, but that's why traveling is the best thing ever. You learn so much in such a short period of time. As we entered, my dopamine receptors began to flood when I realized this taco spot was in the back of a liquor store. This is how you know a spot is gonna go crazy. I felt like I was back in a hole in the wall taco in Puerto Vallarta. As we approached the menu I couldn't believe my eyes. All tacos (Carne Asada, Al Pastor, Chorizo, Ribeye, Lengua, Carnitas, Pollo, & Beef) were $4.99. Damn. I mean it wasn't Tacombi prices, but I was expecting $3.99 max. Are tacos everywhere just cooked? I put in my order for 5 tacos, sat at one of the 8 metal chairs, and began to spiral. "Maybe the affordable taco that I grew up on in the US is just gone..." After about a 10 minute wait, our names were called. My eyes LIT up when I saw these gargantuan tacos. My first thought was "omg there's no way I'm going to finish these." Each taco was served with two thick, handmade corn tortillas with a large surface area STUFFED with meat. At least double the size of a taco I had come to expect in NYC. It was a bigger serving per taco than the $11 burrito from Los Burritos Juarez in Brooklyn. Just when I thought all hope was lost, the good Lord threw me a life raft. These tacos were PHENOMENAL. SENSATIONAL. My favorites were easily the chorizo and the carne Asada. My goodness. Steam coming out and juices dropping on every bite, with a distinct flavor that reminded me of my favorite taco spots in San Diego. I'm getting hungry at my desk at 7:34am just thinking about these things. I will GLADLY pay $4.99 for this taco. As we were getting up to leave, I saw them making a few burritos and became rushed with regret that I didn't get one. If I had to do it over, I would have got 1 chorizo taco, 1 carne asada taco, and a carne asada burrito... but hindsight is always 20/20. Shoutout to Rob Martinez for the rec. A Rob Martinez rec has never let me down. If Rob Martinez has no fans, I am long gone. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo read more

Carniceria Maribel - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yes this place is as good as everyone says it is! The tiny little entrance to the store leads to the restaurant in the back, where you get to experience the joy of these flavor packed tacos. Carne asada and pastor were perfectly seasoned, grilled to perfection, and portion serving sizes are huge! They also sell some items there, such as mugs, hot sauce, and spices. read more

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No atmosphere. It's the back end of a Pilsen bodega but of course that's where you always get the good stuff. We had 4 tacos - asada, al pastor, lengua, and tripas. The asada and lengua were absolutely first rate. The tongue was so tender and flavorful and the asada was tender and had a great char. The al pastor and tripas were a notch below. Definitely good but not mind blowing. The tripe was fried and crunchy, not soft and braised as we're used to. Not our preferred style but that's a matter of personal preference. Oh, and the tacos are very generously portioned. Two per person was plenty. Service was friendly and fast and parking is available if you're willing to cruise around a bit. read more

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Hands down top 2 asada y pastor tacos I've ever had. Made to order so it's as fresh as it can get. When you order you get a ticket to pay at the front register so you can grab drinks up front. Asada is seasoned solid and very thin strips with no chewy bites. Pastor had a great blend of traditional pastor spices with little crispy pieces. Def a must have! read more

Carniceria Maribel - Asada y pastor tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First, the good......Parking isn't an issue. Plenty of metered and unmetered street parking. Service was pleasant, and the staff was friendly. It seemed suspect because it's located in the rear of a bodega. If you know, then you know. They take your order in the rear, and you pay at the register in the front. All orders were prepared fresh. I tried a few carne asada tacos and a carne asada burrito. I grabbed a Jarrito for good measure. The wait wasn't long, but it was longer than I expected. This was on a light foot traffic day. 10-12 minutes, I was in and out. The less than good:The tacos were very dry. I specifically ordered them with cilantro and onions so I could really taste them. The salsa was flavorful, but the steak was overcooked. I added salsa and lime, but it didn't help much, but it wasn't the worst taco I've had. Next, the burrito......Great flavor, and the steak wasn't overcooked. Nice size.....The only problem, it fell apart after the first bite. I wished it was packed tighter and sealed with a little heat on the flap side of the burrito. I enjoyed the burrito more than the tacos, and I must admit, I went for the burrito, so this wasn't a disappointment. I'm willing to give the tacos another try, just in case this was an anomaly. read more

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Admittedly, I was solidly hungry but when our tacos arrived (sitting in the back of a corner store/tiny grocery store - you order at the back and then pay at the front) and I took a bite, I truly thought to myself: these might be the best tacos I've had in Chicago. They are definitely in my top 5. We got the cecina, carne asada, carnitas, and lomo tacos and all were good. My absolute favorites were the lomo and cecina, but truly everything was so good. I was having a stressful day and sitting down and eating these tacos really fixed me and brightened my day. read more

Carniceria Maribel - Lomo, cecina, carnitas, carne asada tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty decent tacos found in the Pilsen area of Chicago. Are they the best that I've had? No, but they're up there in the city for sure. I still think La Chaparrita Taqueria seals the deal for being at the top when I'm looking for Al Pastor or Asada in the city so far. I will say that it took quite a long time for us to get our tacos here after the rush of people has passed through. At one point we thought they forgot about us, lol. read more

Such good tacos and great energy! The flavors were spot on, especially the ribeye taco, which was cooked to perfection. You get to choose two veggies for each taco, and there's a wide variety of proteins available. I tried the carne asada, ribeye, and lengua, and I'm already planning to come back for the shrimp taco next. The carne asada had a nice balance of flavor, though it was slightly overcooked. The lengua could have used a bit more seasoning, but the texture was great. The house sauces were absolutely amazing and tied everything together. There's not much seating, but it definitely adds to the vibe - a very quick stop, but easy to just take out and go home. Not to mention, the staff was warm, welcoming, and happy to answer all of our questions, adding to the overall positive experience. This might just be the best tacos I've had in Chicago so far. Overall, this has become my favorite taco spot in Chicago. Highly recommend! read more

Los mejores tacos de Pilsen. Nuff said! Pidelos de lomo...son mis favoritos. Aunque seguro los otros estan iguales de ricos. read more

Every visit to family in Chicago earns a trip to C. Maribel. Neighborhood convenience store with customers lined up enjoying the fare along the lone counter. Order, pay up front and in about 10 minutes the most delicious, decent sized, double wrapped tacos are served. $5 per is a good value considering the quality. 3 tacos about right. Tostas look great, next time! read more

Carniceria Maribel - Superb, sizable, succulent El pastor and cecina tacos. Difficult to add more to the story, than the other outstanding reviews. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is absolutely filthy. I cannot comprehend all these raving reviews. The cooks are disgusting, they do not use gloves. They talk on their cell phone while cooking. You can literally smell rotten meat while standing in line to order. I walked out, I couldn't give myself to order. read more

Before you even order , welcoming atmosphere here is exceptional! Tacos by far the best I've ever had. Asada, Pastor, you name it ! Can't go wrong with their horchata read more

Carniceria Maribel - Steak tacos with cilantro and onions - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's something so charming to me about an eating experience when you're in the back of a convenience store. They use El Milagro tortillas here and load up each taco with tender meat. I enjoyed both the carne asada and lomo de res, both were seasoned very well. Be prepared for a bit of a wait for your food, but it's worth it. read more

Came here for a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately, it was a packed Thursday night. I didn't think it would be that busy, but a group of hippies packed the place down. There was nowhere to sit and had to wait longer than I would have wanted for my tacos. The place is also small with limited seating. The kitchen is in the of this supermercado. I would say though, that it was definitely worth the wait. I ordered a carne asada taco as well as an al pastor taco. Both tacos were really delicious and went perfect with the salsas. The tacos are served on tortillas amarillas, which truly is the best tortilla for tacos. Staff he was great as well. Will definitely be returning. read more

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Love a good grocery store taco spot! The steak tacos were juicy! The chicken could have used more flavor. Busy spot but they work really quickly and friendly staff. You can also call ahead to order. read more

Carniceria Maribel - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing carne asada burritos! I'd give more stars if I could. It's in a super authentic storefront, and the owner is super friendly. Make sure to graba Mexican Coke! read more

Carniceria Maribel - Carne asada - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious burritos. Nice taco portions as well. Service is okay in the back. Sometimes I feel like they're annoyed or bothered but I go back for the burritos lol. read more

Stopped in for a late meal and was pleasantly surprised by how good the food turned out to be. Despite the unusual location, the kitchen clearly knows what its doing. One of the dishes really stod out with bold flavor and well cooked meat while the others were solid and satisfying. The bread was soft and fresh, which made a big difference. Service was mixed friendly in person, but communication over the phone could be improved and felt a bit frustrating. Overall, the food quality makes this place worth a visit, even if the experience isn't flawless. read more

Working in Pilsen, I've had the opportunity to sample tacos from a great range of restaurants and other eateries. Nowhere will you find better lengua! It is divine - so tender and flavorful whether in a taco or burrito. Other family favorites include the Lomo de Res and Carne Asada. Whether you prefer tacos, burritos or tortas, all are delicious. Call ahead to place your order and the friendly staff, including Alex the manager and Mike will have everything ready for you. They do have some stools along the window if you'd like to enjoy the cozy ambiance of being in back of a grocery store! read more

We got a Torta, Tacos w Lengua, ribeye, and al pastor Meat was all delicious in their own way. The lengua and ribeye could've used a touch of salt to enhance it more. Al pastor though was marinated so so well. Highly recommend and the tortillas- according to my boyfriend he said it tasted really authentic and the texture reminded him of mexico's small location so be aware in case you need to do take out, parking is alright but could be better due to level of pavement, but price goes well with what you get read more

Carniceria Maribel - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall Thoughts: This is a small grocery store with a well-known restaurant section in the back serving up traditional corn tortilla tacos with robust flavor. It was busy on a Sunday afternoon and it took awhile to both place my order and get my food (there's also no bathroom, unfortunately). I ordered the Chorizo and Carne Asada tacos, and both were packed with flavor. I preferred the chorizo as the carne asada steak was a bit dry/tough, but tasty nonetheless. The tacos are $4.99 each which includes tax. Seats are limited too, with just a counter of stools available, but most people get takeout. I will definitely be back here-- they're most famous for their tacos, but I'd also be interested in trying their torta and burritos! -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.1/5 Service: 4.4/5 Overall Value: 4.4/5 read more

Carniceria Maribel - chorizo & carne asada tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you want authentic, juicy, and always fresh tacos, this is the spot! I go here whenever I get a craving for some tacos or a burrito. Ask for the shrimp tacos if you want to mix it up, always a hit. Besides the top quality food, the service and atmosphere is really a vibe -- love neighborhood spots like this! read more

Carniceria Maribel - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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They were ok. Nothing remarkable. I don't know what the high reviews are for. Super anticlimactic with these tacos.

Exceptional dining experience with amazing food, attentive staff, and a warm atmosphere. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, exceeding expectations and creating a truly perfect meal we will remember fondly for years. read more

food was amazing definitely recommend this place to any one definitely amazing and would for sure come regularly and service is really fast it was like five minutes and it was ready But overall this was an amazing food and service read more

Carniceria Maribel - Tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Literally so so delicious, some of my fave tacos I've ever had. Since having birria, it's been hard going back to non-birria tacos, but the carne asada are just as good -- so fresh, so homemade. I could eat these every day. In a carniceria so you know it's good. read more

Carniceria Maribel - Carne asada - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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5 stars for the tacos alone. The carne asada is delicious. If you come on the weekend, be prepared to wait. There isn't much of a system, I saw some people ordering in the front with the grocer and some in the back at the taco stand. Orders were way backed up. But everything that came out looked hot, fresh, and tasty. Service is friendly also. read more

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This place is great. Tacos are great. A bit pricier than regular street tacos $4.99 but still they have lengua here which I love and it did not disappoint. The taco place is in the back of this grocery/liquor store and they have places to sit down and eat. Would recommend coming here if you're in the area read more

Carniceria Maribel - Lengua tacos - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

- FOOD - I'm from LA where the mexican food absolutely SLAPS but this might be one of the best carne asada burritos I've ever had. It has the usual: beans, rice, lettuce, tomato, asada, but they add like a savory layer of cheese that just elevates things to another level. Maybe this is a Chicago thing. It's a pretty sizeable burrito too. - SERVICE - People are nice. - PLACE - The restaurant is in the back of a small liquor store, the food closes at 8pm but the store remains open until 9pm. It has seats and a long side table for indoor dining. Outside there's a mural of Selena, can't miss this place. Parking exists but it can be a challenge. - VERDICT - This is my new favorite burrito spot in Chicago. read more

They close the kitchen at 8pm not around 10pm. The hours should be updated to reflect that

This is a big YEAH. Local Mexican joint owned by the right people, with a small Mercado within carrying everything you need to make your own food and cocktails at home. Plus OH the food is delicious! Authentic and hot from the grill. I had Al Pastor tacos with everything on them, and it hit the spot. Only change I'd make? Is to have some wussy mild salsa available for us silly gringos. I'll be BACK !!! read more

butcher knew exactly what i needed for my recipe. quality was way better than regular grocery stores. service was genuine and helpful.

Got a carne asada taco. Super moist super flavor full. May have uttered a curse word at first bite read more

Carniceria Maribel - Carne Asada Taco - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After hearing the hype from other Chicagoans, had to come as a San Diego native! The vibe was super homey, situated in the back of a bodega. Tried some of the Carne Asada tacos, which was the "favorite" of the restaurant, and had a decent experience. The tacos were pretty expensive and were a bigger size. Overall, my impression was dry; the flavor was there but I wish there was more fatty meat or some more juices. Overall, pretty traditional, or as traditional to an American taco as you can get. Not sure if I would get another Carne Asada taco, maybe one-off, however. Will try the others in the future (on a taco run). read more

Carniceria Maribel - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois