Y'all she now has a brick and mortar!! It's around the corner from where she usually sells. This…read moreis such great news that she has a storefront now!! I stopped in today (Sunday) around noon. There was no line. Of course the tamales are delicious!! I ordered 8, with a total of $20! there is street parking and lots of tables inside. Looked very clean inside, but I took it to go. They still accept cash and Zelle at the store. Storefront Address is 1932 W. Cermak Rd. Chicago, IL 60608

I usually think the great tamales are sold only on the streets in Pilsen, I normally see pop-ups…read moreand buy a dozen. I saw a store front called "The Tamale Lady" and I had to give it a try. I was surprised how reasonably priced these tamales are. I asked them which is most popular and she told me the green chicken tamales are most ordered. I bought a dozen of the red sauce pork ones also. Both choices are a hit with my family and I been coming here weekly for my tamale crave Payment is Zelle or Cash. Street Parking available too.

A true taste of Mexico away from Mexico. These tacos were so delicious and authentic and they don't…read moreskimp on the meat. We tried asada, pollo, and al pastor and they were all a hit. The meat is made to order and the salsas are so good. You get a variety of spice levels. Take them to go or eat them in your car! This is an outdoor taco stand so there's no seating available.

Tacos were amazing 10/10, totally worth the price. The tacos de asada were flavorful and tender and…read morethe al pastor was just as good!

This one is an oldie and STILL a goodie! Stopped by 35th street Red Hots today for classic hot…read moredog with fries and as you can see it did not disappoint! This is a cash only service and they serve hot dogs, polish's and burgers. I always opt for their hot dog with everything (raw onions, sports peppers and mustard) with their fresh cut fries. BOMB! Always friendly service upon entry. This is a small joint with limited counter seating in the lobby walk through with picnic tables outside for outdoor dining. Located steps away from Sox stadium, so I'm sure it's a treat for ball park attendees. I've been coming here for years and will continue to do so. Enjoy! Tell'em Cat sent you!

After I took the Green Line back to my car, I drove back this way to hit up 35th Street Red Hots…read more Its literally right outside Rate Field like a block away. Good location! I went with a hot dog (comes with fries...really, really, really good fries!). How was it? Hot Dog and Fries- It was great! Depression style, soft bun, good toppings, good snap. Now to the fries.............If you know me, you know that I love a good fresh cut fry. They were perfectly crispy outside, soft inside. Cheers to the fry cook at this establishment. They were head and shoulders above all other fries that I sampled in the great city of Chicago. Perfection! Would definitely make this place my hot dog joint if I lived in Chicago. Really enjoyed it!

This fest has really went down. it used to be sooooo much fun! It was moved to 16th street (from…read more18th street), and turned from an expression of culture and the Pilsen neighborhood to just another fest selling things. It was much smaller than previous years with less food choices and fewer authentic vendors and had bad music, at least during the daytime when I went. I usually stay to hear the musical lineups but this was so boring I stayed long enough for the kids to get tacos and look at the 3 shops that were there. They even had some band singing sweet dreams singing the wrong words! I hope the fest will go back the way it was then I'd return. If not I'd say skip it.

There are a ton of festivals that happen during the summer in the Chicagoland area and Pilsen Fest…read moreis one of them! I enjoyed listening to various types of performances from rock, DJing, to an amazing musical family band called Cielito Lindo. The band's age ranged from about 7 years old to the father's age, and they were amazing at harmonizing together. There is a lot of cultural aspects to this festival including Chinelos, a dance from one of the Mexican regions. It was so much fun to participate in! There are various businesses from Pilsen area that participate to sell food including Taqueria y Restaurant El Buen Valle, which had delicious tacos, and had tons of drink options like agua fresca and alcohol. It's only a few blocks long, so it's very contained and easy to get around. Would definitely come back next year.

Well, the veggies were fresh but the GREASE was NOT. I could 1000% taste fish in the sandwich. Meh…read more Especially as a vegan. Not like I really want to taste that. The bread was crispy, the veggies were good but the overall flavor was ruined by the fact that I had a fishy aftertaste. The service was fast. They weren't as busy as some of the other trucks but they were almost one of the last ones from the direction I was walking from. Ambiance was the beautiful outdoor campus of University of Chicago. Couldn't have been a more beautiful day. Next time different food truck for me!

Yay! Thanks to our parent committee for sponsoring our teacher appreciation lunch with Chicago…read moreLunchbox Food Truck! The salt and pepper tofu bowl was amazing! The tofu was fried to perfection and smothered with delicious sauce. I'm so glad I got a chance to try this, and even better that the food truck was stationed right outside our school :) can't wait to try their food again!

Summer is here!!!!…read more Shaved ice at its best. There are few places that I would drive long distances for and this is one of them. If you are familiarized with shaved ice you know what I'm talking and if you don't, well it is about time and this is the place to do it. They have some great flavors and all are made from fresh ingredients. Here is a list of some the flavors they have: tamarind, guayaba, pineapple, peach, strawberry, vanilla, pistachio, eggnog, coconut, mango, coffee, cajeta (milk caramel), pecan among others. I have tried most of them and all are great, but there are few that are my favs. Guayaba is a the top of the list, followed by vanilla with rompope (kinda Mexican eggnog) with condensed milk, truly delicious. According to them the best seller there is the strawberry. You can always add condensed milk to any flavor, just request it. Do not be fooled, there are many raspas on this street. a few days ago on a regular Wednesday afternoon I counted 9 stands, yes 9, from Kedzie to Pulaski alone. I tried many of them (not on Wed., but over time) and none compare to Don Luis'. Raspas Don Luis, the best in Chicago

I have a strong appreciation for Chicago, which has consistently been my go-to location for takeout…read moreduring lunch for several years. They reliably fulfill my orders accurately, and I particularly enjoy their burrito bowls.

Excited to try The Fat Shallot's new truck during their first week of being open. I ordered the…read moresalami sandwich and their crispy pastrami fries and both were great. I admit, the salami sandwich surprised me. I do not usually like egg on a sandwich but I ordered it on a whim. Every single ingredient was intentional and made for a harmonious sandwich. Runny egg and BBQ made an even better sauce; pickled red onion complimented the BBQ; salami needed the bite from the onion. Super delicious and I'll definitely order again. (Just make sure to grab some extra napkins for that one!)

The last time we visited Chicago a few years ago, we attended and really liked the Tacos y Tamales…read morefestival. This year we found we'd missed that event, but Fiesta del Sol, supposedly the largest Latin festival of its kind in the USA, would be happening during our trip instead, and both of those events take place in the exact same area of the Pilsen neighborhood. We took an Uber here on Saturday afternoon to check it out, eat some authentic Mexican food and enjoy the music and folkloric performances. This festival features streets lined with vendors selling food and merchandise, they had 2 performance stages with live bands, a grassy area with a DJ spinning, and a 2 block-long section that was set up like a carnival midway with games of chance, thrill rides and amusements. Visiting Fiesta del Sol was a good way to spend a few hours, enjoy some good food and entertainment and best of all, admission was completely free. Do know that the food at some booths is better quality than others and if I were to attend this festival again, I'd walk around and look at everything before deciding where and what to eat. Some vendors, for instance, were cooking their meat and preparing items fresh, including one stand that was grilling steak and turkey legs over an open wood fire, while others had pre-cooked everything and were taking items out of a cooler and reheating them as customers ordered - and to us, the pre-cooked options lacked flavor. Another thing to note is that Fiesta del Sol was a "dry" event with no alcohol sales. Even booths selling things like pina coladas and micheladas were selling non-alcohol versions. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but those planning to have a cold beer while enjoying the music on a hot summer day or to come and party it up with a few drinks, won't be able to do that here.

I rarely get opportunities to go to festivals in the summertime due to my busy schedule but this…read moreyear I've managed to go to two; Fiesta del Sol being one of them. It's a big event that has gone on for over 50 years. The vendor list is extensive with blocks upon blocks of rides, sponsors, food tents and games. There were a few craft vendors although I would've liked to have seen more craft tents like textiles and ceramics. I was able to catch a few dance performances while eating what I purchased at the tents on the lawn. Pricing for food items varies. Some tents had good deals on stuff, others not so much. For instance, I got a large tamale for $12 that was at least 3-4 servings which I felt was good value. Other tents simply price gouged. I paid $10 for a melon agua fresca that although was on the large side didn't really feel like it was worth the $10. Also, a single quesabirria which appeared to be 4 inches in length cost me $5 each. Tasty but pricey. I also learned that this is a non-alcohol event so if you were expecting booze here, you may get disappointed. My friend was hoping to buy a michelada but was bummed because the entire event was dry. I'm guessing it's because A: this is a family type of event and/or B: They didn't get a liquor license for this festival. Overall, I liked the vibe and the energy. It was packed so expect to bump elbows with folks. I went on a Sunday and I knew parking was going to be difficult but we managed to find street parking about 4 blocks away. Pro tips: *If you want to save on parking (because parking is free in the city on Sunday), go Sunday versus the rest of the week. * Also, pack wet wipes. It helps clean your hands free of food residue afterwards. *Performances are in the park so bring a blanket or a carry on collapsible folding chair. *It's summer so stay cool and stay hydrated. *Don't forget to bring your sun shades.

Every time I come to the city for softball practice, Park Dawgs is posted right next to our field!…read moreThese guys are the real deal! They offer your typical street vendor hot dogs (you can order them with cheese &/or chili), polish sausage, tamale, nachos with cheese, drinks, and chips and candy. All for a reasonable price too! They don't just cater to those at the park, but people line up because they are conveniently located on a busy street, and attract people in the neighborhood. They have two picnic tables set up for those who want to sit around and eat their hot dog, while watching teams scrimmage. You couldn't ask for anything more. These guys got the right idea. They know that once you're done on the basketball court or the baseball field, you're bound to be hungry, and they have exactly what you need. Snag a hot dog or some cheesy nachos, these guys are open late! Cash only though!