Restaurant Review – Taco Joint

With the coldest temperatures we’ve seen yet this winter, this week took me on a search for comfort food. And for me, that means tacos. The Taco Joint was the perfect spot to get my Taco Tuesday fix. Located at 1969 N. Halsted, it’s small and dimly light, with a warm and charming atmosphere. I started with a Chile Mango Margarita: Agave Loco Tequila Reposado, orange liqueur, lime, and mango with a tejin rim. The spicy chili rim perfectly complemented the sweetness of the mango; it was a delightful way to start my meal. We shared a platter of the Blistered Sweet Peppers: pan seared and salted sweet peppers and green beans, seasoned with lime and chili. These were absolutely delicious and a total bargain at $3. The chili gave everything just the right amount of spice and the veggies were crisp and tasty. My dad decided on the Steak Carne Asada Torta, a pressed and grilled sandwich with grilled sirloin, queso panela, vegetable escabeche, and a black bean salsa spread. The sirloin was cooked to perfection, it was so tender. The black bean spread was also super tasty. My boyfriend, mom, and I all ordered the Taco Tuesday platter. Another great deal, the platter has three tacos for $8.50! The first was a Barbacoa taco: marinated, braised beef with roasted red jalapeño salsa, onion, and cilantro. The meat was tender and smoky and the fresh white onion was a tasty, crunchy complement. The second was the Cochinita taco: Yucatan style pulled pork topped with habanero salsa and pickled red onions. The salsa is not for the faint of heart, it had a real kick and was very spicy. The taco was delicious though; it was my boyfriend’s favorite of the meal! Finally, the Al Pastor taco: Adobo marinated grilled chicken, tomatillo salsa, onion, cilantro, and grilled pineapple. This was my favorite. The chicken was perfectly spiced and the sweet pineapple was so good with the smoky flavors of the rest of the taco. I will definitely be back to try more!

Taco Joint has three locations in the city: Lincoln Park, River North, and the Shops at North Bridge. Hours are Sundays through Wednesdays from 11 am to 10 pm, Thursdays from 11 am to 11 pm (10 pm at the River North location), and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 12 am. Find more information on their website.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO