Here are some places that I’ve read about or been told about that are on my radar:
Supermercado Almita
5957 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL (Edgewater)
Frontera Grill
445 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL (Near North Side)
Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
300 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL (Chinatown)
Allende
2408 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL (Lincoln Park)
Tacos Erendira
3207 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL (Bridgeport)
Los Comales #3
1544 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL (Pilsen)
Carnitas Don Pedro
1113 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL (Pilsen)
Taqueria Traspasada
811 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL (Ukrainian Village)
Rubi’s Tacos (Maxwell Street Market)
800 S. Des Plaines St.
Chicago, IL (University Village)
El Tinajon Restaurant
2054 W. Roscoe St.
Chicago, IL (Roscoe Village)
Birrieria Zaragoza
4852 S. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL (Archer Heights)
La Rosita
4450 S. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL (Brighton Park)
Paco’s Tacos
4311 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL (Brighton Park)
Valentina’s Restaurant
4506 W. 63rd St.
Chicago, IL (West Lawn)
La Lagartija Taqueria
132 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL (Near West Side)
Barrio Urban Taqueria
714 W. Diversey Pkwy.
Chicago, IL (Lakeview)
Roy’s Taco House
732 N. College Ave.
Geneseo, IL (Quad City Area)
Pinche Tacos
1514 York St.
Denver, CO
Tacodeli
4200 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX
Chico’s Tacos
4230 Alameda Ave.
El Paso, TX
Fusion Taco
801 Congress Ave.
Houston, TX (Downtown)
Guerilla Tacos (food truck)
582 Mateo St.
Los Angeles, CA (Art District)
Los Cinco Puntos
3300 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
Alebrije’s Grill (food truck)
Cubbon St. and S. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA (Orange County)
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood
703 Turquoise St.
San Diego, CA
Mission Cantina
172 Orchard St.
New York, NY (Lower East Side)
Taqueria El Idolo (food truck)
W. 14th St. and 8th Ave.
New York, NY (Chelsea)
Chicago Taco was on the list, but it closed 2 days after opening…..
I know some of these have more than one location, but I put the address at which I’ll most likely be dining. Feel free to add any suggestions of taco joints or specific tacos…
Oh, and I’d like to try some places that aren’t Mexican too. So if you have a favorite Cuban, Guatemalan, Columbian, whatever, taco, let me know.
taco tourist 
La Tacorea – 847 W Belmont
La Juanitas – Sioux City, IA
You’re welcome.
Thank you!
let’s dine together here soon and we can pre- or post-party at my new crib – http://lalagartijataqueria.com/ … their fish tacos were given a good nod in TimeOut’s recent taco issue.
lessdewitt!
I think Picante on Division is worth a review.
The best reviewed taco place on Yelp!? Taco Bell ….
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL&ns=1&ls=81e522342864dd56#find_desc=taco&show_filters=1&sortby=rating
Casa Teresa in Troncones Mexico. Looks like you need to come with next time!
uh, yeah!
Taco Bell
I don’t like it THAT authentic…
Get your passport stamped at Carmela’s Taqueria, at Lawrence and Broadway. Awesome hole in the wall and they’ve got al pastor on the trompo and it’s good stuff. Not advertised as BYOB but they are totally fine with it.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carmelas-taqueria-chicago-2
awesome….will do. thanks for the suggestion. who is this, by the way?
Kopel. Let me know when you go and I’ll bring da beers.
You’re still teaching, right? You need to get them to fund a trip to SXSWEdu next year so you can hit Austin’s Taco Trucks.
Yup, still teaching. That’s actually how this thing started. I have summers off and a million taco places around me. I need to go to SXSW for many reasons, but you’re right, their food scene is definitely one. Thanks, yo! How’d the first tomato taste?
I just looked up SXSWedu…now I get what you’re saying more. Sorry, I’m a little dumb.
Well, you can go to all of it, but if you tack on the -Edu portion of the festivities maybe you could get your travel and some of your lodging paid for. Start scouring for grants or something – I’ll be there (at least for the Edu part) next year.
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in San Diego, Josh.
hmmmm…may be a bit of a commute….i’ll see what i can do…