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.

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.

Great burrito. It was large and ready super fast. He cooked it on the griddle so the cheese was…read moremelted. Easy, quick, flavorful, and totally hit the spot. Fair price too. You won't be disappointed by this place. I would hit it often if I was nearby.

Tried this at West Fest, stepped outside my comfort zone and just tried it. Man, it was sooooo…read moregood! I could have eaten 5 more. Next time I'll get the large. The service was nice and the food was ready fast!

Tried it at a local festival after looking on Yelp. Total let down. Overpriced, bland, and falls…read moreapart while you eat it Skip and save your money!

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!

This is a real Chicago classic. You don't have to drive through traffic to get a Red Hot Ranch…read moreburger--there's one right by Sox park! A great quick-service red hots with a very focused menu. It's a small place with super limited seating, but there are a couple picnic tables outside if you like.

The whole restaurant had great Chicago heritage,the hotdogs were amazing,the people working there…read morewere super nice,and you have to follow one rule,no putting ketchup on your hotdog!

This spot is right by the mini golf course at the Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center. I was…read moreattending a Jazz Event and met Sheila and her team! Phenomenal space, outdoor, calm lagoon, birds are chirping, ex Ellen hidden gem! They served egg rolls, Berkeley chicken and salmon. Oh my goodness!! Don't forget the hot honey to drizzle on the rolls!!!