Lakeview Taco Fest

Details

Sat, August 26, 2023 | 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sun, August 27, 2023 | 11:00am to 10:00pm
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Overview

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With its eclectic mix of stores, boutiques and restaurants, the Southport Corridor is arguably one of the hottest commercial strips in Chicago.

This August it gets even more sizzling when the glorious taco is again in the spotlight as the tortilla-wrapped fave is celebrated at this annual food and music happening. Back for its tenth flavor-filled year in 2023, it’s also a celebration of seasonal beers as well as the start of autumn.

Whether one prefers their shells filled with traditional chicken, steak, chorizo and beef, or stuffed with imaginative ingredients such as mushrooms, seafood, goat and duck, this fall fest is a wildly popular fixture to the Windy City’s food scene. More than 10 local eateries challenge themselves to make the tastiest tacos.

The fest also features special beer and taco pairings, two music stages, crowd-pleasing Mexican wrestlers, activities for kids, and visitors can text vote for Chicago’s “Best Taco.”

A $10 suggested donation benefits the Friends of Lakeview.


Saturday
11:30am – Mariachi Los Palmeros
1:00pm – Too Fighters
3:00pm – Chicago Latin Groove
5:00pm – Run Forrest Run
7:30pm – Mr. Blotto

Sunday
11:30am – Mariachi Los Palmeros
1:00pm – Pino Farina Band
3:00pm – iPop
5:00pm – Modern English
7:00pm – Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute

Saturday
2:00pm – School of Rock – Chicago
4:00pm – Rosie & The Rivets
6:00pm – Breakfast Club
8:00pm – Kashmir

Sunday
11:15am – School of Rock – Andersonville
1:00pm – The 77 Solution
2:30pm – Caliente
5:00pm – Hello Weekend
7:30pm – 16 Candles

 

Text-to-vote for your favorite taco!  Winner announced Sunday at 4:30pm on the North Stage at Addison!

 

Tuco & Blondie
Lakeview Taco Fest wouldn’t be Taco Fest without Tuco & Blondie.  Their Southport roots and unique spin on tacos make them a welcome addition to this fest.  Be sure to check out their traditional steak, chicken tinga and beef tacos but also their crispy cauliflower taco with chipotle mayo, jicama slaw, cilantro lime crema is one not to miss.

Tikki Masala Taco House by Tandoor Char House
Reigning champs!  As all great storytellers will tell you, the best place to start is the beginning.  Fahim and Faraz’s Indian father and Pakistani mother were famous amongst their friends for their delicious dinners and generous natures.  Only their mother was able to meet and exceed their father’s high culinary standards through the use of the best ingredients and the implementation of the most ancient of techniques. Amazed and inspired by the deliciously sumptuous stews simmering in their mother’s Karhai, and their father’s rare and delectably deep marination of Halal meats charred to perfection according to tradition, Fahim and Faraz breathed life into Tandoor Char House.  See how they’ve transformed these flavors into tacos (you will not be disappointed)!

Barconia
Barcocina fuses traditional Mexican cuisine and various multicultural cooking techniques into modern Mexican fare. Our fresh ingredients and three distinct beverage categories will let out your sweet, smoky, and spicy side while you drink to the joys of life.

Beat Kitchen
Located in the heart of Roscoe Village, Beat Kitchen has been serving Chicago with an excellent variety of live music, food and beer since 1994. The historic building was constructed in 1889, with the back room previously serving as a neighborhood butcher shop prior to being converted into a live music space. Both touring and local musicians, comedians and artists grace the stage with shows almost every night. Owned by Robert Gomez, Beat Kitchen has been the home to every genre of music, hosting some of the biggest names in live music & comedy! Stop by for a show or pop-in for a drink & you’ll often find regulars from the close-knit Roscoe Village community posted up at the bar.

Taqueria La Ciudad
Hailing from Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, Taqueria La Ciudad serves up nothing but traditional Mexican tacos from old recipes passed down from generation to generation.  One taste and you’ll be transported back to the Old World in Mexico.

Taqueria Arceo
Located in Aurora, IL, family-owned Taqueria Arceo is as authentic as it gets.  Their traditional Mexican style tacos and homemade rice and beans will have you wanted more after just one taste.

La Cebollita Grill
Located on the outskirts of Marquette Park in Chicago, La Cebollita Grill has been coming back to the Lakeview Taco Fest for many years.  Why?  They want to spread their love to Chicago’s Northside every year!

D.S Tequila Company
D.S. Tequila Co. is a contemporary casual, full service, tex-mex restaurant and bar in the heart of Lakeview, Chicago. Their menu features gourmet à la carte tacos, cooked to order burgers, quesadillas, giant salads, and a wide assortment of appetizers to share. They regularly feature creative chef style tacos and burgers to keep your taste buds entertained and our menu exciting.  And what they offer at the Lakeview Taco Fest will blow your mind.  Creativity is their specialty!

Cabos Tacos
Inspired by Mexico’s vibrant and colorful flavors of the Baja Peninsula. Cabos Tacos aims to serve tacos with a Baja California unique and tasteful twist. Tacos and cuisine influenced by family recipes along with our wild culinary adventures from Tijuana Mexico to Cabo San Lucas. Cabos Tacos specialty is our lobster and shrimp tacos served with a fresh slaw mix, our signature pico de gallo and a house made sweet and spicy mayo. Famous family recipes include our beef and vegan picadillo served with the best hot sauce you will ever have! If you are trying to get a Cabo bod, try our low carb Cabo Rice Bowls, fill it with as many colorful, healthy and electric flavors of Baja California. However you taco, Cabos Tacos will take you on our culinary fiesta down to Cabo!

Banges Mexican Food
You may wonder why we have so many authentic Mexican restaurants that participate in Lakeview Taco Fest?  The reason – they all put their unique touch on the stuffed tortilla.  And Banges Mexican Food is no different.  They’re a festival favorite for a reason!

El Campeon
El Campeón is a local Chicago company founded in 1993, in the Pilsen Neighborhood. They have participated in special events in the city, providing specialty food items ever since. In 1999, they created our authentic Piña Colada Acapulco Style and have never looked back! From the Windy City to the surrounding suburbs, across the Midwest, to Miami on the East Coast and Los Angeles on the West Coast, their exotic and tasteful drink has now become a staple every event we partake in!

Carnitas Roldan
Their name says it all!  They are known for their delicious carnitas tacos among other fest favorites including their refreshing and flavorful agua fescas beverages.

Prime Tacos
Prime Tacos started when two Taquero brothers, Anthony and Eric Cardenas, decided to team up and bring their Mexican roots and dishes to the city of Chicago. You know what they say; nothing brings people together like good food, especially delicious authentic Mexican food. Quickly, customers who tasted Prime Tacos delights started coming back for more. In a blink of an eye, what first started as occasionally cooking in their backyard and for parties began to grow into one of the city’s main attractions for food lovers.

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Join us each evening at 5pm at the intersection of Southport & Cornelia to see who will reign supreme!  This family-fun heart-stopping wrestling IN THE STREETS OF LAKEVIEW is guaranteed to go great with a taco and brew!

fol newlogo horizontal fullcolor smallFriends of Lakeview is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and partner of the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and Special Service Area (SSA) 27. By leveraging individual and corporate donations, grants, and other sources of funding, it supports a resilient local economy and high quality of life for the benefit of businesses and residents in Chicago’s Lakeview community by improving and enhancing public streets and spaces, creating memorable experiences, and promoting the neighborhood. For more information, visit https://www.friendsoflakeview.org

 

Looking to connect with active consumers at this event? For pricing and a customized benefits package, please contact Norine Smyth at 312-799-0354 or Laura Wilke at 773-584-6669.

 

This year, we have teamed up with Eventeny to make your exhibitor registration easier than ever! Please note that you will have to create a new profile and register on this new platform if you haven’t done so yet.

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If you have any questions please email us at [email protected]

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