Johnnie's Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Grease Eats in Melrose Park

Out by O'Hare there seems to be an abundance of late night diners. Places open around the clock. Spots where you can get some pancakes and a burger as well as $10 in scratch off tickets after your shift at the airport. One of them is a spot that's pretty much always open on Lake street. It's called Johnnie's Grill and it 100% looks like a blast from the past both on the outside and inside. 

Locals Favorite in Melrose Park

While there's no history lesson of Johnnie's Grill to be found online there's plenty of history inside the place. It's a time capsule back to when this area was a hotbed for everything from shipping to dope dealing. There's no denying this area is one of the seedier stops in Chicagoland. Johnnie's Grill is definitely a stop for some of the areas major players. Especially late into the night. If you're just riding by and it's dark Johnnie's will catch your eye right away with it's neon advertising burgers and shakes. It promises breakfast and fries too. All of these things are what's popular on the menu here.

a peek inside

Some people just like to stop inside for some coffee and maybe a scratch off ticket. Some don't give their money to anyone but the slot machines that are lined up against one of the walls. But for the most part Johnnie's is where locals go when they want something for breakfast or burgers be it 10am or 10pm. Johnnie's is always an option out in these parts. The steak fajita breakfast platter is the item that those in the know will tell you to get. They take a 1/2 lb of skirt steak and chop it up amongst grilled peppers and onions. It's served with hash browns and eggs of your choice. A massive plate of food that hits the after hours spot. The burgers looked decent enough but this is one of those dishes you wont find everywhere. At about $15 it's one of the splurge options on a typical diner menu.

Steak Fajita Breakfast Platter

Johnnie's Grill 
4401 W Lake St
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(708) 345-1314

United Grill

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

Every now and then I like to get a little dirty when dining. By which I mean some good old fashioned grease eats. The Chicagoland area has more than it's fair share of spots where the grease on the walls is considered a good thing. Usually these type of spots serve food at a more than fair price and sometimes do it around the clock. This is the case at United Grill in Cicero. An old school 24 hour diner with a slot shop on the side. It's Cicero location makes it a popular spot with Mexican families. They also have a second location on Armitage just off Cicero but I've never visited that address. 

Locals Favorite in Cicero 

For an old school diner the menu at United Grill is somewhat tamed down. They offer the usual breakfast classics and sandwiches. Judging by the online reviews it's biggest strength is the fact it's always been there for Cicero locals and such. After that there's quite a few good words spoke on the burgers. I've had a few over the years and have to say it is pretty good for what it is. Sometimes I get a taste for a classic diner burger like this which you cant just recreate. Not without a flattop that's cooked 1000's and 1000's of pounds of sausage, bacon, and burgers anyway. It took decades for United Grill to get that flattop seasoned just right. So while the flavors from this burger wont come from the fact the beef was raised humanely on heirloom corn it still tastes better than the $5.50 pricetag and that's with fries. They're just frozen but like the burger they take on the flavor of the oil.

Diner Cheeseburger at United Grill

United Grill 

2145 S Laramie Ave

Cicero, IL 60804 

(708) 222-0637

Detroit Slider City

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
-The Old School Burgers of Detroit, Michigan

The stories and pictures of Detroit that those outside of there see remain ones of abandoned buildings, crime and bankruptcy. However those that have followed my posts here (check part one of this series HERE and part two HERE ) know that those stories are only half of it. The other is the places and people that remain. We know about the Motor City's deep affection for Coney Dogs but there's another love and it's as much about the buildings as the food. In a city where architecture is strong, the slider shops stand out. Beautiful white enamel buildings sitting in the same place, most for over 50 years, nothing except maybe the prices have changed. "Sliders" are what locals they call the burgers that these spots put out, many do so 24 hours a day. Not as small as a White Castle slider nor steamed these are more like your typical 1930's style smashed burger with grilled onions, the type you used to find everywhere. The style McDonalad's has made billions on. This is actually a couple years worth of round-ups but I'm confident in saying not much if anything has changed at these places. There's a reason they've survived time. For many they bring back memories of better times. Plus the greasy burgers are good.
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Sonny's

City Limits

I cant figure out when Sonny's got it's start but there are two locations and this one is within city limits on Schoolcraft road. In an area where not much else remains, this beautiful building still stands and the local folks still flood the place. Great atmosphere inside here, as good as any I stopped in at. I didn't get a snap of their longtime grill but it sits right behind the counter by the register and must be 5x5 feet at max. I witnessed a funny exchange between a mother and her child who was impatient with the wait. "I'm gonna eat your sliders" if you don't start behaving. She hushed up real quick. I'm usually a no ketchup on my burger guy but sometimes forget to mention it as I did here but I actually kind of liked it on there. I could see myself eating these at later hours, theyre open 24/7. I walked out with a t-shirt that cost me a buck less than my six pack of cheeseburgers ($6).

Cheeseburgers from Sonny's

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The Telway

City Limits

This classic grease pit is one of the only spots on this round-up that sports a coca-caola sign, the rest prefer Pepsi. They've been around since 1944 and have another location in Madison Heights. It's an all night diner but the coffee and dirt cheap mini burgers are their most popular items. An article from The Metro Times circa 2002 says the building itself has been around for 78 years which would mean it's pushing 90 these days but that seems a little old for this style. There's only about eight seats inside, none of these spots have tables, most of the business comes from the take out window on the other side of the entrance.

To-Go Window

All the spots featured offer bags of burgers which must of been the preferred way of ordering them back when lunch time hit at the factories. These days it's still a popular spot and two guesses for why would be it's still a spot where one can fill up with just a few bucks and also there must be quite a few who grew up on them. Because they weren't my favorite. Mushy is the best way to describe them. Not inedible but definitely different. I guess I could see enjoying them if they brought back pleasant memories of better days in Detroit.

Telway Cheeseburgers

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Motz's Burgers

City Limits

Over by the river in Southwest Detroit is one of the cities longest tenured burger makers. Motz's Burgers has been around since 1929 and with the exception of price they haven't changed a thing. Same customers, same service. These burgers are bigger than all the rest featured on here. Not large but definitely not small balls of beef are smashed on their longtime griddle with the smell of the onions being abundant inside and out. Common trend from all these spots is the use of cheap picnic buns which I don't really mind because the beef shines. Motz's is often mentioned on "best burgers in America" lists and while I've always said those are impossible, there's a reason they've been around for over eight decades and get mentions, its really good.

Cheeseburger from Motz's

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Elmer's Hamburgers

City Limits

You'll find Elmer's off the beaten path located deep on the cities west side. Located in an area where there used to be seven steel plants within a couple miles. The only other business still around is a nite-club and I'm sure most everyone from there goes to Elmer's when last call is over. It’s been open 24/7 for the last 50 years. Originally there were two but nowadays just this one. Its run by a couple and their kids who took it over from their grandparents. The one thing that has changed here I read, is the bulletproof glass as robberies got all too common in the 70's. Judging by the "systems" text on the outside I'm guessing Elmer took this place over from one of the many White Castle spawns that came around when it was taking the country by storm. I didn't sample these burgers all one by one within a small time frame but I remember Elmer's as much as any other. Another thing all these spots have in common is grease at the bottom of the brown bag they come in, not to mention the covered walls at all. Elmer's makes a fresh but certainly not lean hand smashed patty that comes with an extra black pepper kick, grilled onions and pickles. Old school doesn't get much better, both in taste and atmosphere.

Elmer's Extra Peppery Cheeseburger

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Campau Tower

Hamtramck, MI

This beautiful structure in downtown Hamtramck was originally a White Tower. One of the many who tried to claim White Castles crown they were founded in Milwaukee in 1926 according to Wikipedia. It also mentions that In 1929, White Tower put 30 locations in Detroit alone. So it's possible this structure goes back to then. At their high point White Tower had 230 locations in a handful of states. I learned the last of the White Towers is in Toledo (Ohio) but there's still a handful of buildings up including this one which I believe is still 24 hours. Your odds of having a normal experience at these places aren't as high as your average fast food joint because of this. Of course I had an interesting incident here. Menu was widespread and I noticed they had "sliders" listed on top of the cheeseburgers which came with a nice heaping helping of rehydrated onions ala WC. Both under the cheese and at the bottom of the bun. Anyone that appreciates the old school 30's style burger documented HERE by Sky Full of Bacon will appreciate most of these spots, the fresh but never lean beef spots anyway. Campau included.

Campau Tower Cheeseburger

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The Giant System

Dearborn Heights, MI

Unfortunately this spot has been under renovation on my last two attempts to visit. But gotta look at the good and at least it's not being torn down. Some stuff on the web seems to trace this spot back to somewhere around 1950. There's not much more on it out there.
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Carter's

Lincoln Park, MI

This beautiful building and the Carter's name have been around for over 50 years. As was the case here you can expect the employees to be long time workers at most everyone of these spots. Also the case for all, whoever lives nearby is a regular. Many of these places are social gathering spots as much as they are eating establishments.

a peak inside

The burger here comes pre-formed but it is a fresh patty used. When they throw them them on the griddle they really sizzle. Something unique I noticed here compared to others was that they toast the bottom part of the bun. Their menu is large and Thursday is Coney day (.99). All their soups, chili and cakes are homemade.

Cheeseburger from Carter's

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Hunter House Hamburgers

Birmingham, MI

Hunter House Hamburgers was established in 1952. They've been going strong ever since. You know you're near when the grilled onion smell is in the air. It's probably the most well known resident in Birmingham, a suburb where many of Detroit's best athletes live. You can still catch some top notch car shows and eat their famous "sliders" inside their beautiful porcelain diner.

a peak inside

Meat is coming from the same local butcher as the current owners parents used back when they got started. Who knows how many pounds of onions they've smashed into that beef but it must be in the millions because these are some really wonderful burgers in that change nothing type of way. The folks working the grill here were way younger than any of the other spots, it must be a popular high school summertime gig, but they did a great job with the burgers. The thick kosher deli sliced pickles were best of the bunch.

Hunter House Cheeseburgers

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Bate's Burgers

Livonia, MI

They've been going strong here since 1959. Like Hunter House the inside here was really well kept and every stool was taken during my visit. I found it best to get them from the pick-up window and eat but Bate's had a sign saying that's a no-no. I rebelled. All good, these style of burgers go down quick.

Sign Outside

I did a handful of these on one swoop and have been back to a few since then, Bate's remains very consistent. It was the overall winner on one roundabout to a few within distance of each other. It's almost impossible not to start salivating over some of these spots as the smell in the air is too much to pass up. It'd be hard driving by here everyday and not stopping in for at least a couple.

Cheeseburger from Bate's Burgers

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Greene's Hamburgers

Farmington, MI

The Greene's name has been around since the late 1950's. There were a few around the Detroit area for a while but just this one in Farmington remains. You know the drill by now, fresh beef with tons of onions smashed into them.

Making Sliders

They probably handled the onions here better than anyone else, I don't know if it's because they load them on or their using a specific type, Spanish seemed to be preferred at most spots, but these were some potent burgers. Locals were sitting at the stools ordering them up like they were beer "I'll take another when you get a chance hun"

Greene's Cheeseburger

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Sonny's
20001 Schoolcraft Rd
Detroit, MI 48223
(313) 535-2278

Telway Hamburgers
6820 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 843-2146

Motz's Burgers
7208 W Fort St
Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 843-9186

Elmer's Hamburgers
8515 W Chicago
Detroit, MI 48204
(313) 933-7766

Campau Tower
10337 Joseph Campau Avenue
Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 873-7330

Giant System
21944 Van Born Rd
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
(313) 561-3940

Carter's Hamburgers
2908 Fort St
Lincoln Park, MI 48146
(313) 928-6222

Hunter House Hamburgers
35075 Woodward Ave
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 646-7121

Bates Burgers
33406 5 Mile Rd
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 427-3464

Greene's Hamburgers
24155 Orchard Lake Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
(248) 474-7980

Turkey Club Crawl

 -Grubbing in Chicago
Where can I get a good Club?

Some things are just always better when someone else makes them for you. That's the case with me and Turkey Club Sandwiches. OK well maybe once a year the day after thanksgiving I can make one that's great but other than that I'm not cooking turkey all that often. I cant stand the places that use lunch deli meat instead of fresh sliced breast and over the last couple years made it a point to find a serviceable turkey club, these are my findings.
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Palace Grill

 Longtime locals favorite near the United Center

The Palace Grill on Madison Street has been serving Chicago's hungry since 1938. It's also housed in a cool old school building and has a dope neon sign. This place is a popular stop for Blackhawks and Bulls fans headed to the game and also city workers and anyone who lives near there. They serve a respectable club but not one to make me come directly back when the taste for one comes. But good enough to get it again when I find myself there.

Turkey Club from Palace Grill

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RJ Grunts

I hadnt been to RJ Grunts in god knows how long leading up to last year. But my lady friend happens to live near there so I've been in a couple times since we met. I like Grunt's. I know it's nothing special and they started the salad bar trend which some cant stand. Others love it. But I dont care about it either way. I just like the fact there's a Lincoln Park place that remains that was there before I was. That said they're Club was how I found others things I've ate there of late. Good in some aspects but lacking in others. The turkey was top notch and the bacon good too but where was the middle piece of bread? That and a lack of toast on the two pieces it came with prevented it from being the best.

 Turkey Club from RJ Grunts

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Melrose Restaurant

The old school Greek diners are fading in our city and even faster go the ones that stay open into the evening. The Melrose over on Broadway is a place I've never dined inside at but I did stop in for a club sandwich to go one night when riding by and I was pleasantly surprised. There are three things I judge a good turkey club by and the most important is the turkey itself. Here they had the real stuff, cut thicker which I like. My other two needs of an actual triple decker sandwich with crispy bacon were also met. I liked the thick cut Greek diner style fries too.

Very Respectable

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 Golden Apple

 Longtime locals favorite in Lakeview

The Golden Apple has been serving the families and local drunks of Lakeview for over 40 years now. They're open 24 hours a day and have had a broad range of clientele over the years. I used to go there now and then with my friends back in high school but dont get there all too often anymore. However because of their always being open I did stop in for a club one night when there were no other options. If the person taking my order asks if I want cheese on my club I will say yes so you'll notice some have it on them in this roundup. Theirs was another ok but not great one. Cheap deli meat was it's downfall.

Turkey Club's at 2 in da morn

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Sam & George's

Not far at all from our last stop in Lakeview is S&G as the locals call it as those are the letters on it's sign outside. They've been serving the community for over 50 years and are open from 5a until 8p daily. During the cities best months you can sit outside and dine. They serve a nice option for a Club here. The most lacking aspect was the amount of bacon which there was little of. I need bacon placed on the bottom piece of bread and then again as the last layer before the top piece of bread goes on. Otherwise the portioning just isn't right when it;s a triple decker. Props for the option of tots.

A nice Turkey Club option to have

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The Original Alps

Longtime locals favorite the Irving Park neighborhood

As mentioned this round-up wasn't done all in one day or even a month or for that matter a year. But I can remember which ones I liked and the original Alps which is still standing was the best. This place has some history too as it first opened up shop at 71st and Exchange before moving North in the mid 60's. They've been where they are today since 1970. It's a classic Greek owned diner and they put out a near perfect (in my book) Club. I'll just have to start ordering double layers of bacon when I eat one.

Chicago's best Turkey Club? Maybe

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Palace Grill 

1408 W Madison St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-9529

RJ Grunts
2056 North Lincoln Park W
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-5363

Melrose Restaurant
3233 N Broadway St 
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-2060

Golden Apple
2971 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-1413

Sam & George's
3000 N Lincoln Ave 
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-4025

Original Alps Restaurant
3637 W Irving Park Rd 
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 267-5112

XXX Family Restaurant

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Indiana

Welcome back to the 'Midwest Burger Bowl' Today were headed down into Indiana. "Cant stop, wont stop eating these hamburgers" is what I heard a student (presumably) from Purdue University say as he sat hungover eating hamburgers on the Sunday morning I stopped into Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette, Indiana. It's the states first and thus oldest Drive In and they've been slanging their famous root beer and hamburgers aka chopped steaks since 1929. Open 24 Hours a day (Sun. til 10p) XXX has long been a favorite of many who went to Perdue or has driven thru West Lafayette and knew where to stop in at. This is the place to eat when you do as I did en route to Indianapolis this past winter.


a longtime Indiana favorite

The name and origin of XXX actually goes back to a brand of beer that Anheiser Busch started brewing in Galveston, TX back in the late 1800's/early 1900's. Each barrel was labeled 'XXX' and the beer died with prohibition which is when 'XXX' Soft Drinks were born. Their root beer and ginger ale were favorites and Triple XXX still uses the original recipe for their root beer that the Drive In was named after. I thought this was an excellent brew and I'm a big fan of homemade/micro brewed root beers. On my visit it wasn't just the college kids dining in but families and senior citizen couples as well as tourists so to say such as myself.

a peak inside the place

The menu includes breakfast options which come in handy during the wee hours but its all about the burgers or the 'prime cuts' as their called on the menu. They use fresh never frozen sirloin which is ground on site along with real cheese. Same way since day one and that's why people love it. They offer a few house favorites as far as burgers including the 'Duane Pervis All American'. They take a quarter pound of their house ground sirloin and top it with creamy peanut butter as well as the usual suspects. Not this time. I went classic on my first visit and got a double cheeseburger with pickles, mustard and onions. It was easy to taste why people have a connection to this place. This is what all burgers once were before the fast food and retail folks made them into pre-formed hockey pucks that turn into tasteless waste. XXX Family Restaurant continues to serve a real American burger. Since 1929 for a reason.


Double Cheeseburger w/ fries from Triple XXX Family Drive In

Triple XXX Family Restaurant
2 North Salisbury Street
West Lafayette, IN 47906
(765) 743-5373
Website

Drunken Mexican Eats

-Oh Yeah, I've been there too
Where the cities wasted eat...

Neighborhood: Different Northside 'hoods with lot's of bars
Cuisine: Mexican - The drunken gringo type
Price Range: $4-$10
Would I go again? Well I still drink so sometimes I do to some and might make it back to others.

We have many different series' here at S'C'&C. One of those is "Oh yeah, I've been there to". These are quick run downs of places that I also happen to have been too along the way on the great Chicago eating trail. These posts just point out that if your wondering if I've been somewhere, I most likely have. Today we head to Twelve (10 newly featured) late night Mexican shacks, which happen to be abundant in Chicagoland. I cant verify this but I would bet that aside from Mexico City and maybe one other large city in Mexico that there is no other city out there with more Mexican restaurants than Chicago (LA included). Whether its a spot run by an award winning chef like Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill or a hole in the wall joint like these places that are frequented by the city's heavy drinkers, we got all phases of them here in Chicago. It's no coincidence that all these spots featured today are in neighborhoods with lots of bars and with that many drunks. These places are a part of Chicago and anyone who grew up in the city and did it up out on the town in their heyday has their favorite late nite burrito shack, always visited with blurry vision and after 2am.

Index (abc order)

Allende
El Burrito Mexicano
el gallo bravo
Fiesta Mexicana
Jaimito's Burrito's
La Bamba
Picante
Taco Burrito Express
Taco Burrito King
Taco Burrito Los Panchos
Taco Burrito Palace
Tradicion

I thought that with NYE 2010 approaching that now was a good time to post this. I imagine that these joints take in more money on New Years eve than any other night. These places have always been gold mines for those that open them. Since the 80's spots like them have been popping up near areas with lots of bars and clubs and near train stations throughout the city and its suburbs. They all have the same goal and that's to serve cheap, greasy not too authentic Mexican food up until the wee hours of the morning. Unless the tradition that is drinking starts to disappear, these places will be around forever and we as a society haven't stopped drinking since we found out about liquor and what it does. So here are 11 late nite spots that will soak up the liquor and the items you should order should you choose to dine at any of them. I am not responsible for how you feel the morning after. Cheers!
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Allende


Located on Lincoln just off Fullerton in Lincoln Park

It's fitting that Allende is first in ABC order because out of all these spots featured its also the best in my book. Located just off Fullerton on Lincoln, a block away from the red line stop it's been around for as long as I have in the neighborhood and at this point I'm one of the originals. They actually have two locations with another down south on Lincoln near the Children's Memorial Hospital and both are open late and serve to a working class lunchtime crowd and to wasted customers thru the early morning hours as well. I like Allende especially well when they have the al pastor spit going which is usually on the weekend.


The areas only al pastor spit, that I'm aware of anyway

Despite an abundance of Mexican restaurants in the city we still only have a few handful's of places that do up al pastor straight off the spit and not just on the griddle. In Lincoln Park you wont find them anywhere else and believe it or not Allende's are very good when they are on their A-game. Spicy marinated pork meat is sliced like gyros off the cone and then topped with cilantro, onion and comes with plenty of limes and salsa. A wonderful late nite snack.


Taco's al Pastor from Allende are the best tacos in LP...when they are on

The rest of the menu at this little sit down/take out joint is actually pretty good too and if something sounds good to you it most likely is going to be from here. I like the breakfast options and at under $5 the ham, eggs and cheese with beans and rice and tortillas is great bang for the buck. If a place isn't doing up real deal tacos de carne asada, I tend to stay away from the steak tacos, but as far as steak tacos made on the griddle go, Allende might be best. Good quality food at really cheap prices and a really good homemade red salsa make Allende part of my neighborhood rotation. I eat here when sober, so that's saying something aint it?


Ham, egg and cheese breakfast plate, dirt cheap and filling


Steak taco from Allende
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El Burrito Mexicano


Located on Addison, steps from Wrigley Field under the red line stop

If there's a large drinking area in Chicago there's another thing that's for sure going to be near it and that's a drunken Mexican restaurant, open late and serving the shit faced. It just so happens that El Burrito Mexicano is a block down from the biggest outdoor bar in the world, Wrigley Field. So you know this place has seen it all and has some stories to tell. It's been around a while and it's nothing pretty inside, just a grill, a few tables and a menu to soak up the alcohol. Pretty much every place on here today is like the other. I used to go here back in HS now and then.


Steak taco platter is my go to from Mexicano


Nacho platter with cheese, beans, SC and avocado is great too...
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El Gallo Bravo

El Gallo Bravo has a number of locations around Chicagoland. Many of them are 24 hour joints including the one I like to hit up from time to time located over on Montrose and Clark. You can read all about my favorite burrito in the city right HERE as it's been featured before. I also really love their hard shell steak tacos which at under $1.40/each are cheap and complete.


Hard Shell steak tacos from el gallo bravo


My own constructed Cali burrito
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Fiesta Mexicana


On Halsted in Lincoln Park

You'll notice that half of these spots are within a mile radius of each other and that includes Fiesta Mexicana which is across the street from Allende and around the corner from TBP #2 and so on. This place is actually a sit down spot popular with Biograph theater goers as well as people starting they're night out with food and drink. It burned down a few years ago and then reopened and I went back once since. I thought it was better before for food but the drinks at the new one were great. One of the better margarita's in the neighborhood and nice price with patron or something decent added in. My combo meal wasn't what I remembered it to be from my youth, maybe my taste buds just moved on? None of this food featured is too authentic.


Combo Platter with one of each
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Jaimito's Burrito's


Located on Clybourn just off Sheffield

Here we have another spot that I have been going to for a while, meaning I am still a customer here from time to time. Mexican food has always been my favorite and I've been going out and about since before I was supposed too so there isn't many places in the neighborhood and it's vicinity that I haven't been to. Jaimito's has always been a favorite of mine for a quick bite when at home or headed there. I think the whole menu is pretty legit with the tacos being my go to menu items. The best chicken tacos in the city reside at Jaimito's. They take moist meat and flavor it up in a red sauce and in this case I enjoy the lettuce, tomato gringo style toppings.


Tamale with their top notch sauce

I pretty much always go with the chicken tacos but don't sleep on the chile rellanos as well as other items like the tamales and enchiladas. Another thing I must always get is an order of rice or two. I think they put out the 2nd best Mexican rice in the city and love their red salsa that comes with it as well as the tacos, burritos etc...I just wish some of these places would use larger containers for them and or stop being so stingy with handing them out. The tacos need the salsa.


Jaimito's chicken tacos are my "best in city"
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La Bamba


Locations throughout the Midwest

Oh boy, this next stop is not something I like to remember. When I was at college in Madison we had nowhere near the selection of good greasy Mexican we have in Chicago and I never slowed down from hitting up the bars and rocking out til the wee hours. This created for some desperate times which were going to La Bamba for a burrito when I was fiending for Mexican food. This is a franchise started by a family who had the idea to bring "burritos as big as your head" to areas with lots of college kids. Yes I love Mexican so much sometimes I had to eat at this not so great place. I'm not a burrito guy either but if drunk enough I could make theirs good. We got a few in Chicago and they're locations throughout the Midwest. Ignore the "authentic Mexican food" sign.


Steak burrito from La Bamba...a favorite among college kids
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Picante


Located on Division in Bucktown

Back in the 90's when Lincoln Park was the king of bar's and weekends in Chicago many places like Picante popped up. Then when Wicker Park and Bucktown got trendy and bars and clubs came with it, more taco joints would come too. I've only been to Picante once and it's located on Division not too far off of Damen. It's there to serve the hipsters tacos and such after midnight. They need them too right? It's a really small space and the food and its flavors arent too large either. The most popular menu item is the white boy tacos which are just hard shell ground beef tacos with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Since they arent fried fresh they are just ok as is everything else on the menu. The fish and chicken tacos sucked. Sorry but they did kid.


Hard shell taco filled with ground beef aka a White Boy's taco


Chicken taco from Picante


Picante's fish taco
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Taco Burrito Palace


Located on Halsted in Lincoln Park

Oh yes the place where I spent more drunken nights than most...TBP. Back when it was in it's old location this was a place of legends. The crowds it got and stories the old building could tell. Those days are over, they moved and so did most people that made this thee place to eat during the late 90's and early 2000's. You can read all about it HERE.


The former late nite inebriated eats champion of the Northside
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Taco Burrito Express


Located on Halsted in Lincoln Park

I wasn't kidding when I said we got alot of spots. Our next stop is to Taco Burrito Express aka TBE. It's located on Halsted right down from La Bamba in between that and Taco Burrito Palace. Back in high school you either went to one or the other but most definitely not both. Since I was always a big fan of TBP I only came here a handful of times but had many friends who liked it far better to TBP. The nice thing about it today is that it's still the same place it was in the 90's.


Corny murals are a must at drunken Mexican joints

I have found that the food here today is still pretty good like it was back when. I really enjoy the veggie tacos from here and think they are superior to TBP's version. I like veggie tacos from these places nowadays and have found TBE's to be what TBP's used to be so when I want some of them I will just go here instead. The item that people loved TBE for back in the day was the chicken quesadilla and I'm afraid that has changed. It's nowhere near as greasy and filling as it used to be but is still a good option if that's what your feeling like. I like.


Veggie taco from TBE


Chicken quesadilla from taco Burrito Express
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Taco Burrito Los Panchos


Located on Diversey in Lincoln Park

Hey, hey whatdaya say, another place just up the road. This Taco Burrito is located on Diversey just off Lincoln. From what I can remember a few of the guys that work TBP Los Panchos used to work at TBP. I cant verify this but I am almost positive since I've been in the neighborhood eating at these spots my whole life. I like this place for it's tamale plate. They are just like TBP's but these are always a little more moist and fresh than the other spots. It must be a family thing and these guys must have branched out because many other things are very similar but I don't really order anything else but my beloved tamale plate from here. Best lunch for under $5 within reach from me. Although for me it's usually just a snack.


Los Panchos tamale platter, great deal at about $5
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Taco Burrito King


Locations throughout Chicago

I used to eat at a TBK located in a strip mall on Ashland just off Belmont back when my friends had a place around there. Taco Burrito King has quite a few locations throughout the city but I haven't been to any of them in years. I took this picture of my go to item, the steak taco platter, when I went to the Greektown location, about two years back. I have not been back to any of them since. Not much different than any of the others seen on here, they just have locations in lots of different neighborhoods. It's ok at best.


Steak taco platter from TBK
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Tradicion


Located on Belmont just off the Red line stop

Our final stop on the drunken Mexican restaurant late nite crawl is one stop before Addison on the red line over at Belmont. I usually stay away from these parts and it has nothing to do with crime or shady people, just weirdos and freaks which actually scare me more than any ghetto corner could. But I stopped in here one night when I got a parking spot a few feet away and ordered a chips and salsa along with a couple steak tacos to go. I got this big Styrofoam cup of house made red sauce and a big bag of fresh fried chips for about $2 and it was everything I wanted. I went back a few times and kept on enjoying the steak tacos and loving the chips and salsa until I had a bad experience there with the tacos one time. They were nothing like what they used to be and straight gross and I have not been back since. They can bee seen below. Just like Allende was first in abc order and also in food quality, Tradicion is last.


Tradicion has really good red salsa...


...but the steak tacos are very forgettable

Oh and in case you were wondering, my current late nite go to taco joint that I almost always go to when I want Mexican late is La Pasadita. See ya next year on S'C'&C with the King.
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Allende Restaurante
2408 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 477-7114

El Burrito Mexicano
936 West Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-6991

El Gallo Bravo #5

1429 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60613

(773) 404-5358

Fiesta Mexicana
2421 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 348-4144

Jaimito's Burritos
1781 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 397-9009

La Bamba
2557 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 477-7491

Picante Taqueria
2016 1/2 W Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 328-8800

Taco Burrito Palace
2459 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-0740

Taco Burrito Express
2540 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-8867

Taco Burrito Los Panchos
1155 West Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-3198

Taco Burrito King
Multiple Locations
List of them

Tradicion
958 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 388-1574