Monthly Archives: October 2012

Terrible photo #1…

Did you ever want a friend that was exactly like you? Looks like you? Talks like you? Acts like you? Me neither. But, I got one, thirteen years ago. His name is Tyler. He’s smart, athletic, witty, interesting, funny and sexy….just like…well, I already told you. One thing he hasn’t done, though, is go on a taco tour stop.

So, I let my girlfriend out of her cage and we headed up to North Center to meet Tyler at Taqueria El Asadero. Asadero, I read, is a spot that has carne asada that rivals La Pasadita’s.

So, I ordered a carne asada, a pollo and an al pastor taco. What did Tyler, the person that’s exactly like me, order? That’s right, a carne asada burrito.

The carne asada is definitely good, but I don’t think it stands up to La Pasadita. It’s very juicy and has great grill flavor. I could have used some more powerful seasoning, but I’ll still consider it a very tasty taco nonetheless.

I had also read that the pollo is great, and it was. The taco has large chunks, which is the way to go to avoid stringy, dry chicken. The al pastor is very sweet. The adobo sauce gets carmelized on the exterior of the meat due to the high temperature grill. Very tasty, but very sweet. It also lacks the pineapple I’m used to….I know, total diva.

…and terrible photo #2.

Seacrest out.

• Location:  2213 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL (North Center)
• Tourists:  Josh, Julia, Tyler
• Tacos sampled:  carne asada, pollo, al pastor (also have lengua, chorizo, barbacoa, and chile rellenos)
  
• Toppings:  lettuce, tomato, onions and cilantro
• Salsa:  salsa roja (spicy)
  
• Extras:  chips
  
• Tortillas:  corn, double-up (uh, uh)
  
• Atmosphere:  strip mall, small, order at counter, messy, busy, strip mall in the city?
  
• Price:  $2.25-$2.35/taco
  
• OVERALL RATING: 7.5
  

Christmas lights already up.

Have you ever had Costa Rican tacos? Me neither. That’s why I decided to take my princess on a culinary cultural adventure….five blocks from my apartment to Irazu.

Although the basic setup is obviously the same, the tacos have a different seasoning on them that gives them their own unique taste. They only have steak and chicken tacos, plus a taco tico. I really think they just have tacos on the menu for the gringos that come in there thinking they are in a Mexican place…like me.

The tacos are really good, though. The chicken tacos are seasoned sweetly, and don’t contain chile powder or cumin. They are made from chicken breasts, and cut into chunks. They are very juicy, unlike much of the pollo tacos in the barrio. The steak tacos are also juicy, but don’t contain the same seasoning as the chicken. The steak is much more savory. I enjoyed them both, but didn’t care for the taco tico.

The taco tico is a taquito with a hodge-podge of garbage on top. I think I’d rather just walk over to 7-11 and have theirs. The taquito itself doesn’t contain much meat. Plus, the texture of the shell is like a double-decker taco from Taco Bell, but not on purpose. The toppings are: ketchup (I knooow), cabbage, mayo (I knooooow), and lizano sauce (a common Costa Rican condiment, kinda like HP sauce). Together, the combination is terrible.

Compost pile on the northwest part of the photo.

I guess that’s what I get for trying to be cute…

P.S. – Try the oatmeal shake!

• Location:  1865 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL (Bucktown)
• Tourists:  Josh, Julia
• Tacos sampled:  steak, chicken, taco tico
  
• Toppings:  lettuce, tomato, hot peppers
• Salsa:  salsa verde
  
• Extras:  chips
• Tortillas:  corn
• Atmosphere:  costa, oatmeal shake, rican, friendly, green and white, Christmas lights
  
• Price: $1.95/taco
  
• OVERALL RATING:  7.5