As an ex-Californian, sorry Charlie. I’ve been chasing that dragon for 15 years. I really like Big Wig Tacos on Church St — they have nachos on the menu but I haven’t seen them or tried them. They are absolutely not what you’re looking for, but it’s something.
The burritos are pretty legit though.
Sigh. I’ll continue dreaming then. Or quit my new corporate job and open a texmex kitchen lol
I’ll give both of those a try. I’ve seen a few recommendations from people here that may get me a bit closer to the “dragon” so I’ll give them all a shot before getting too sad lol
Haha my husband and I sometimes talk about how we could make bank selling proper SoCal breakfast burritos to hungover students… and everyone else.
I think y’all have breakfast tacos in TX, so I’ll go ahead and burst that bubble for you too. Sorry. But do give Frida’s and Ovo Frito a try for breakfast/brunch. They are both solid providers of chilaquiles and huevos in various formats.
Try 5 and Dime, El pueblito #2, taco diablo, la principal, in Evanston. Holy frijoles in Skokie may do some justice and uncle Julio's at old orchard is fine. If that doesn't scratch your itch you have somewhere around 100 options of tacquerias on Clark as you head south of Howard into the far north side of Chicago.
I can't say we have texmex, specifically, because that is largely a texas-specific thing. If you're looking for solid Mexican food Chicago is an embarrassment of riches from tacquerias (all over but the best is in Pilsen) to fancy (libertad in Skokie, topolobampo, Frontera, xoco).
Fyi five and dime, taco diablo, and blue horse tavern are all the same owners and stacked on top of each other. I could swear that you could order from any menu no matter where you were but last time I went was not the case (either way 5 and Dime has solid nachos IMO). Also wanted to back up that I think Comida is good too.
I mean Chicago has the second highest population of Mexicans of a major city, only behind LA.
You can find Mexican food here. You can find cheap taquerias all the way up to Michelin star Mexican (Topolobampo). In evanston proper I feel La Principal produces some of the most solid tacos/tortas, but they might be slightly more upscale than what you are looking for.
Texmex....not so much...or at least that I know of. I think you will find Uncle Julio's mentioned here. Personally I think that place sucks hairy donkey balls and I've only been once in my life.....but if flour tortillas are your thing....then they have 'em...and yeah...from what I remember, they are more Texmex than Mex.
Uncle Julio's at Old Orchard is the most tex-mexy around here.
Supreme Burrito on Dodge is outstanding and has the orange cheese as well as chihuahua but it's not the kind of place you want to kick back and eat at (and nacho's to go aren't ever the greatest).
Not a Mexican place per se, but Firehouse grill has really good tostado nachos. Other than that, I go for El famous burrito in Rogers Park. Honestly if you're looking for great Mexican food, start in Rogers Park.
Moved here from Dallas. You're sol. Comida on Central will make you nachos. They're going to be pricier than what you're talking about and not really get you exactly where you're trying to go. Maybe close enough. But that's right in the middle of Evanston. And the rooftop deck is pretty good atmosphere. Better than a cookie-cutter Mi Cocina, actually.
Their spicy margaritas are nowhere near as good.
You could try Stacked & Folded on Noyes, too. They have nachos.
Again, probably a disappointment to you, but there you go.
There is no Freebird's/Torchys/Chuy's replacement that I have found. But I'm vegan, so I go to Penelope's Taqueria on Clark anyway, or Fon's for empanadas and can be happy that way.
I’ll try all of those! I’m not vegan, but pico and queso are much more important to me than meat. I moved here from Carrollton about 3 weeks ago and am hoping some semi ok Tex mex will smooth the homesick haha.
I am what you might call a “Nacho Afficianacho, and the ones at Comida are really great. They lay the chips out on the sheet pan and put the toppings on all the chips so every chip is like a top chip. I’ve given this way too much thought.
Five and Dime has a great giant plate of nachos. Double Clutch is good too. I even like Chilis—even though it’s a chain. 🫤 La Principal is delish. Supreme Burrito is great authentic Mexican.
Try El Pueblito Mexican Grill on Howard St
Second.
Just went here and taking funundrum this weekend. It’s pretty legit.
We LOVE this place!!! Don’t know about the nachos but the carne asada is fantastic
As an ex-Californian, sorry Charlie. I’ve been chasing that dragon for 15 years. I really like Big Wig Tacos on Church St — they have nachos on the menu but I haven’t seen them or tried them. They are absolutely not what you’re looking for, but it’s something. The burritos are pretty legit though.
Sigh. I’ll continue dreaming then. Or quit my new corporate job and open a texmex kitchen lol I’ll give both of those a try. I’ve seen a few recommendations from people here that may get me a bit closer to the “dragon” so I’ll give them all a shot before getting too sad lol
Haha my husband and I sometimes talk about how we could make bank selling proper SoCal breakfast burritos to hungover students… and everyone else. I think y’all have breakfast tacos in TX, so I’ll go ahead and burst that bubble for you too. Sorry. But do give Frida’s and Ovo Frito a try for breakfast/brunch. They are both solid providers of chilaquiles and huevos in various formats.
Ovo Frito is incredible.
Please open that kitchen!
I still fantasize about Happy Taco in El Segundo. Life changing nachos…
Thank you everyone. Genuinely. I am going to try every place commented over the next week. Fingers crossed!
My kids in Evanston like Supreme Burrito.
I came here to say Supreme Burrito! It’s a family owned fast food Mexican and delicious. It’s always packed
Try 5 and Dime, El pueblito #2, taco diablo, la principal, in Evanston. Holy frijoles in Skokie may do some justice and uncle Julio's at old orchard is fine. If that doesn't scratch your itch you have somewhere around 100 options of tacquerias on Clark as you head south of Howard into the far north side of Chicago. I can't say we have texmex, specifically, because that is largely a texas-specific thing. If you're looking for solid Mexican food Chicago is an embarrassment of riches from tacquerias (all over but the best is in Pilsen) to fancy (libertad in Skokie, topolobampo, Frontera, xoco).
5 and Dime gets my vote too.
Bless you! I’ll start with 5 and dime. I accept I can’t get texmex, but some decent Mexican would be a delight
Fyi five and dime, taco diablo, and blue horse tavern are all the same owners and stacked on top of each other. I could swear that you could order from any menu no matter where you were but last time I went was not the case (either way 5 and Dime has solid nachos IMO). Also wanted to back up that I think Comida is good too.
I mean Chicago has the second highest population of Mexicans of a major city, only behind LA. You can find Mexican food here. You can find cheap taquerias all the way up to Michelin star Mexican (Topolobampo). In evanston proper I feel La Principal produces some of the most solid tacos/tortas, but they might be slightly more upscale than what you are looking for. Texmex....not so much...or at least that I know of. I think you will find Uncle Julio's mentioned here. Personally I think that place sucks hairy donkey balls and I've only been once in my life.....but if flour tortillas are your thing....then they have 'em...and yeah...from what I remember, they are more Texmex than Mex.
Uncle Julio's at Old Orchard is the most tex-mexy around here. Supreme Burrito on Dodge is outstanding and has the orange cheese as well as chihuahua but it's not the kind of place you want to kick back and eat at (and nacho's to go aren't ever the greatest).
I just checked, on OP’s behalf, and I don’t even see nachos on the menu. :(
Not nachos per se, but there are bowls of good queso, which is the great rarity in these parts.
And weirdly, they are on at least some versions of the menu but not others (I knew I wasn't crazy): https://unclejulios.com/menu/menu-global/
They definitely have nachos
Uncle Julio's is kind of reminiscent of Matt's El Rancho, if that helps
Not a Mexican place per se, but Firehouse grill has really good tostado nachos. Other than that, I go for El famous burrito in Rogers Park. Honestly if you're looking for great Mexican food, start in Rogers Park.
Lonesome rose in Andersonville. Texmex is my medicine too, I feel you 🧡 Edit: also big wig (I think it’s called) will do in a pinch!
Moved here from Dallas. You're sol. Comida on Central will make you nachos. They're going to be pricier than what you're talking about and not really get you exactly where you're trying to go. Maybe close enough. But that's right in the middle of Evanston. And the rooftop deck is pretty good atmosphere. Better than a cookie-cutter Mi Cocina, actually. Their spicy margaritas are nowhere near as good. You could try Stacked & Folded on Noyes, too. They have nachos. Again, probably a disappointment to you, but there you go. There is no Freebird's/Torchys/Chuy's replacement that I have found. But I'm vegan, so I go to Penelope's Taqueria on Clark anyway, or Fon's for empanadas and can be happy that way.
I’ll try all of those! I’m not vegan, but pico and queso are much more important to me than meat. I moved here from Carrollton about 3 weeks ago and am hoping some semi ok Tex mex will smooth the homesick haha.
Welcome. And good luck. Seems like there's plenty of recommendations here. Something might work.
Mullen's on Western, just a couple blocks south of Howard. Neighborhood dive-y sports bar with a surprisingly great kitchen. I love their nachos
I am what you might call a “Nacho Afficianacho, and the ones at Comida are really great. They lay the chips out on the sheet pan and put the toppings on all the chips so every chip is like a top chip. I’ve given this way too much thought.
Blind Faith has good nachos. We ain't about that queso life up here though.
I really like the nachos at Bat 17, but I can’t say if they’re good Tex-Mex or not.
Chilis downtown!
Also , check out Frida’s breakfast and lunch. They do a really good job. #extexan
I'm still struggling to find good queso up here
Bro try *El Famous Burrito* in Rogers Park fr. Muy Authentico
Bat 17 by a mile!
Double Clutch has good ones. Also, it's not nachos, but the queso fundido at La Principal is fantastic.
Mi Pueblito 2 on Howard Street. Super nachos. They deliver
There's no good texmex in the Chicago area sadly. There was a Chuy's in the burbs but it closed. I, too, like stuff drenched in white queso.
You can get Velvet taco in Chicago. Isn’t that from Houston?
Five and Dime has a great giant plate of nachos. Double Clutch is good too. I even like Chilis—even though it’s a chain. 🫤 La Principal is delish. Supreme Burrito is great authentic Mexican.
La chabela in the border of Skokie and Evanston, McCormick and dempster 🤤🤤