Tacos Palas

This is truly a gem tucked away somewhere in Pilsen street. It s like eating out of somebody s kitchen literally. No menu and the owner (I’m guessing) is the chef/​server all in one. She hardly speaks English but enough to get a good meal out to you! We love this place, will be back! Thank you Consuelo:)

This morning we went on a hunt for Mexican breakfast and everything seemed to open later than we were able to wait, so I was on Halsted and I remember seeing this place open early.
Walked in and thought, is this a restaurant? There is a countertop with about 5 stools and it surrounds a kitchen.
The lady, Consuelo, speaks very broken English at best. We had a little communication problem, but with enough going back and forth, we ordered huevos ala Mexicana, and some chorizo and egg tacos. There really isn’t a menu. If she has it, she’ll make it for you. I watched as she cooked and she puts love into your food.
You can’t find a place this cool anywhere. It was just plain delicious. The best Mexican breakfast I’ve ever had. I’ll be back, maybe tomorrow.
Also don’t forget to bring CASH only. No credit cards.

Awesome. Felt very homey… Meat was freshly cooked, not sitting in a tin because they cooked it two or three hours ago. It was like watching grandma cook for you and set you up to eat, then smiles and cleans, thankful that you came for dinner. The steak could be a little better but ‘my definitely going back for something with chicken. I noticed there’s pool table and juke box in the back. I wonder if she has after parties lol.

Mrs. Oceguera makes the best Mexican food in the city. Hands down a fantastic home cooked Mexican meal no matter when you come in. Play some pool while you wait? What could be better.

I visited Tacos Palas today after studying with a friend at La Catrina. When I walked in, I took note of the tiny seating area, which wasn’t really a problem for me as I came alone. I ordered one chorizo taco and one pastor taco. One thing I loved was chatting with the cook (who appears to be the only person who works there) while she prepared my order. I also enjoyed the addition of retried beans on my chorizo taco, but I know this might not appeal to everyone (and you can get it without). I’ve had chorizo that was far too salty more than once, but this was nicely balanced. The pastor was tender, but with a slight pleasant chew. The tacos were also considerably larger than others I’ve purchased in the city. I probably ate here 3.5 hours ago, and I don’t plan to eat again today because it was filling enough. The total for two tacos of this size was $ 4.90, which I thought was a great deal for a broke grad student such as myself. The only thing that knocked a star off this review is relatively limited options, but that’s fine considering you can walk a few feet away if you simply must have something that isn’t available on the menu. All in all, a great experience, but I wouldn’t suggest coming with more than a friend or two.

I had the steak burrito, it was huge! Thier prices are more then fair for the quality and size. Little place, lots of flavor. Highly recommend this little place.

Felt like I was with grandmama although her English wasn’t the best!
Very small place but perfect for me and my friend!
The best chicken taco ever! So much flavor!
I will be returning!

This place is a hidden gem the chicken tacos are eehh! But the steak and al pastor are drugging amazing and the byob pool tables hidden in the back are also cool

Ever wanted to eat in the kitchen of a nice Mexican lady? Then you’ve found the spot. Unfortunately the tacos weren’t as great as other places around such as Mary’s Taqueria off of 18^th St.
We had the steak, al pastor, and chicken tacos. In order from «best» to worst:
— Al Pastor: best of the bunch and most flavorful
— Chicken: used shredded chicken from a whole thigh. Tender, but lacking in flavor and «chew» texture
— Steak: chock full of large chunks of tough gristle; this required a 2-​taco minimum order, so very disappointing
The owner/​cook does provide whole pickled jalapenos if you ask for it, and these were very well received.
Even at $ 2.25 per taco, I can’t recommend coming here for tacos unless you had no means of transportation to another place. Maybe the tortas or the soups/​stews on the menu are more worth it? Warrants another try again!

This place reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen. Generous large portions for everyone.
I don’t speak Spanish, but it doesn’t matter. I still am able to order what I want. The price is reasonable and the experience is worthwhile. There are only four stools, so if you are able to get your burrito to go do so. Otherwise don’t bring more than 3 friends.
I recommend the chicken soup and al pastor tacos and burritos.

Stumbled upon this place while looking for a great burrito. It’s a very small place, where there’s a bar with five chairs. If you don’t like the tight restaurant, not the place for you. I tried their steak burrito, and I was able to see the whole cooking process because you’re literally in a grandma’s kitchen. She cooks the marinade steak in front of you, so it’s very entertaining to watch the whole process. Her English wasn’t the best, but her burrito was very delicious. Looking forward to coming back to this place!

Just two doors down from our crib, 5 seats at a bar in front of the kitchen, there may be a restaurant out back but we sat with mama. Not a word of Spanish did we speak but chatted the whole time. Pork tacos was pork stew on a taco and delicious, the asada was a bit more rubbery but Pablo preferred it. Two massive tacos each and we parted with $ 13. Good VFM. Jarritos to wash it down.

This place is an experience… it’s like dining in your grandma’s kitchen and watching as she prepares your food. We had tacos and Jarritos. She was out of a few things we tried to order, but everything that we were served was delicious.

Sweet little hole-​in-​the-​wall. Enter by the red door and head right. (Straight appears to be a pool hall.) Five seats at a counter facing the lady’s kitchen. Cash only.
The experience is very cool – the lady cook is very nice. Fun to watch her cook your meal.
We had tacos: pastor, steak, and chicken. Son had vegetarian burrito. beans on the side. We enjoyed it all.
The homemade green salsa is really good.
It’s not haute cuisine by a long shot, but it is very cool :)
$ 21 for three of us for lunch, including cokes.

Pretty legit place. Have walked by a hundred times and never gone in. After seeing some recent Unilocal reviews decided to give it a whirl and I am glad I did.
Fresh, fast, good and cheap. Three tacos for $ 6 can’t beat that. Give it a try! I will be back for sure.
Go in the big red door. Get over the fact you are literally in someone’s kitchen and get some good food in your gullet!

Cash Only. Amazing little shop. Not what you expect, but the food is authentic and prepared very well!

Hole in the wall deliciousness. I didn’t even know how to enter the spot because the door looks like it would open to an apartment. The owner came around the counter and opened the front door and asked if I wanted tacos. Heck yes I did!
Sitting at the 5 seat counter I listened to an older man tell me how great life is because we’re alive as I waited for my pork tacos. The owner threw tortillas on the comal, asked if I wanted «un poquito de frijol» (adorable) on my taco. Of course I did. In a matter of minutes, my two tacos were wrapped up with some green salsa on the side and my total came to a beautiful $ 3.89.
I tried, tried, tried to make it back to work without busting open the bag but there was just no way. 1. I was hungry 2. The food looked delicious as she wrapped it up for me. 3. The smell made me even more hungry. As for taste, the tacos were delicious. Huge chunks of pork (there were a few fatty pieces but fat = flavor) and creamy beans with the slightly spicy salsa. Delicious. I look forward to going back. Tacos didn’t even make it back to work (2 miles away).

Stumbled into this place when I was in the neighborhood and what a pleasant surprise. This place is no frills, just 5 stools at a counter overlooking a kitchen; felt more like having food in someone’s home rather than a restaurant. We had various tacos that were all really really really good. The chorizo with egg taco was a really pleasant surprise, try it with the beans on top its awesome.
The only difficult part about this place is figuring out how to get in, use the door on the left if you’re looking

This is a nice spot for good, healthy homemade Mexican food. The lady behind the counter is a motherly type. I’ve been here twice with my eight year old daughter and she just dotes on her. I bet if she could spoon feed her she would! Her menu is very simple but made with caring and love. She doesn’t like to make her food fattening and uses only the best ingredients. Try all her dishes you will like them all.

Tiny hole in the wall place you could easily miss, but it seems to be a hit with the local hipsters. Right when you walk in you are basically in a small kitchen with a counter and 5 stools. If you have trouble navigating small narrow spaces, this is not for you. The little old lady that runs the joint is very friendly and talkative and while she got my order wrong (i ordered steak but got a pork taco) I could tell she was trying her darndest and instantly forgave her. The food is good and she makes it 2 feet in front of you. I am a bit of a germ-​phob and luckily I was not offended by anything I saw. The pork I accidentally got was actually wonderful! I highly recommend it!
I felt like I was over at her house and eating a home cooked meal. The experience is worth the trip.