Taqueria El Grande

Duncle

a month ago

★★★★★

Taqueria El Grande might be the most confusing restaurant in my regular rotation. Let’s start with the food, because holy moly… it’s really good. If you go here, you absolutely have to try the chilaquiles color with extra mole sauce. The mole is rich, flavorful, and the kind of sauce that makes you pause mid-bite and rethink your entire breakfast life plan. It’s fantastic. But then comes the takeout pickup experience, which is a whole different adventure. First there’s the parking lot, which operates under what appears to be a “survival of the fittest” system. Getting a spot sometimes feels like competing in a small demolition derby. Then you go inside. Now don’t get me wrong — the place is efficient — but friendly might not be the first word that comes to mind. Lupe behind the counter has the energy of someone who has seen every possible takeout situation and has decided she is done with all of them. But the true highlight is the backscratcher system. The chef places the finished takeout orders way down the counter, and rather than walking over to grab them, Lupe deploys what can only be described as a fully operational backscratcher retrieval device. I watched in awe as she extended the backscratcher, hooked the bag like she was reeling in a prize fish, and slowly dragged the order across the counter toward her. No words. No hesitation. Just pure backscratcher precision. Honestly, it was kind of impressive. I’m half convinced the backscratcher has been promoted to assistant manager of order logistics. So here’s the verdict: The food is fantastic. The pickup experience is… memorable. Three stars because the chilaquiles color with extra mole sauce are absolutely worth it, but picking up your food might also include witnessing one of the most efficient — and hilarious — backscratcher-based order retrieval systems in the Midwest. Pro tip: get the chilaquiles with extra mole sauce… and keep an eye out for the backscratcher in action.

The Couponing Millennial

2 months ago

★★★★★

I did the Cecina taco dinner and it was delicious. I wanted to order the flan to go but unfortunately they had already sold out! Really great hole in the wall taco place. Definitely stop in before or after the zoo or if you're a local.

Michaela Winters

3 months ago

★★★★★

My family and I stopped here after a day at Brookfield Zoo and it was just lovely! The atmosphere was warm and colorful, the service was friendly and helpful. The best part, though, was the food. The tortilla chips seemed homemade and were delectable. My family loved the salsa they served with it, and I also tried the Verde salsa. It was wonderful too, quite a kick but a very nice one. I got the enchiladas Verdes with cheese and they were some of the best enchiladas I've had. Definitely recommend this place! Perfect spot to relax after the zoo.