Of the dozens of outstanding authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago, one local spot has the best tacos in Illinois– and it’s located in a gas station strip mall.
According to a recent ranking by Yelp, El Tragón Taqueria in Lincoln Park is the best taco joint in Illinois. The unassuming taqueria is nestled at the tail end of a gas station plaza at the corner of Halsted and Division Street.
When driving by or stopping to fill your tank, you might not even notice it. But make no mistake, El Tragón is a cut above the rest, with a near-perfect 4.8 stars on Yelp.
The hidden gem has garnered a local following for its decadent Queso Birria tacos, savory Carne Asada, creamy Horchata, and other traditional Mexican dishes.
According to Yelp, the top taco spot was established in 2021, with owner Gerardo Madrigal drawing menu inspiration from street stands in Mexico’s Jalisco region. Since then the small restaurant has quickly become a local favorite, drawing mass acclaim from Yelp users.
“I never thought a taco spot inside of a gas station plaza would slap this hard. I definitely will come back!,” wrote one Yelp user. “All I can say about El Tragon is WOW! This place is the real deal…,” wrote another.
Next time you’ve got a craving for tacos, skip the Taco Bell drive thru and check out El Tragón instead!