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    Carniceria Maribel

    4.7 (201 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Pastor, chorizo, asada tacos
    Matt B.

    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!

    Johnny N.

    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

    Friday Lunch!
    Randy S.

    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)!

    Tripas y language
    Felice B.

    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.

    Carne Asada Burrito
    Fred H.

    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.

    Salsa for sale
    Nora F.

    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.

    Asada y pastor tacos
    Mark M.

    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!

    Lomo, cecina, carnitas, carne asada tacos
    Michelle G.

    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.

    Torta de carne asada.
    Lena R.

    10/10 loved this place. I was immediately greeted and thanked. The food was bomb. Burritos were my favorite. Everyone was very nice and fast. It's a cute little store, perfect for snacks and drinks. Next time I'm in Chicago, I'll come back again.

    Tacos
    Ellis M.

    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.

    Superb, sizable, succulent El pastor and cecina tacos. Difficult to add more to the story, than the other outstanding reviews.
    John C.

    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!

    Carne asada
    Jose C.

    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.

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    8 months ago

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

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    4 months ago

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

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    Tacombi

    Tacombi

    4.0
    (210 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    I went last night to Tacombi (West Loop location) and they absolutely delivered. The food was…read moreabsolutely delicious (I had the little tacos, the esquites, guaca and nachos and wine). It was exactly the kind of Mexican comfort you want even more so when you're settling in for a World Cup match. You feel like you're in Mexico. Big shout out to Sabrina. She took care of our table, and the service was friendly, smooth, and the whole place buzzing. Can't wait to go back!!

    I was craving a shrimp burrito so I decided to come here. I have walked past this place many times…read morebut never tried it. I stopped by with my pup to order shrimp burrito to go. Evelyn greeted us right away and placed my order. I asked for spicy salsa so she recommended the gobernador salsa which was a green spicy salsa made with poblanos. Evelyn was so sweet! She gave my puppy a treat and also brought out a bowl of water for him while we waited for the food. The inside of the restaurant was really cute and colorful and they had a separate bar area for drinks. I decided to order a spicy michelada with Pacifico beer while waiting. The bartender was super nice and made my drink quickly. It was the perfect amount of spice and was so refreshing! My burrito came out quick for how packed the inside of the restaurant was. The burrito was a good size and was so fresh and tasty! The gobernador salsa was delicious. I can't wait to go back and try something different and this time dine in.

    Photos
    Full liquor & juice bar
    Full liquor & juice bar
    Churros con Xocolate.
    Churros con Xocolate.
    Corn Esquites.

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    Corn Esquites.
    L' Patron Tacos

    L' Patron Tacos

    3.9
    (652 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Burrito ala deabla, con shrimp. Highly recommend. In general the tacos are delicious…read more Environment is great and working personal are super nice. Been a customer for over years now. Bar inside which is a plus. Bathrooms are always clean. Five star all around and a must check out!! Dine in or sit outside

    My first time here, and it was such a great experience. Delicious food and a really fun vibe!…read more We walked in around 12:30pm Saturday, and even though the place was pretty packed, we were seated right away! I ordered the Paloma, and my husband got the Michelada, both super refreshing and made well. For food, I ordered the El Gringo with rice and salad. I definitely wish I had swapped the salad for beans, because my husband got both rice and beans, and I ended up finishing my rice and helping with his too lol. Highly recommend this dish, just go for the beans instead of the salad! My husband also ordered three tacos: Al Pastor, Chorizo, and Carne Asada, all of which were really good. One of the fun touches is that they have QR codes at the table to leave a Google review, and if you do, you get to spin a prize wheel. Of course I had to try it, and it made the whole experience even more fun. I ended up winning a free double shot! The staff were all super friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the music gave it a fun, vibrant atmosphere. I'd definitely come back!

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    Inside
    Inside
    Al Pastor Taco
    Al Pastor Taco
    Dining area of L' Patron

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    Dining area of L' Patron

    Carniceria Maribel - beer_and_wine - Updated August 2026

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