Lakeview Taco Fest

Details

Sat, September 7, 2024 | 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sun, September 8, 2024 | 11:00am to 10:00pm
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Overview

click here for the digital guide

 

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 11th flavor-filled year in 2024, it’s also a celebration of seasonal beers as well as the start of cooler evenings.

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 – Jessie’s Girl
3:00pm – Second Hand Soul Band
5:30pm – Stache!
8:15pm – Michael McDermott & The Arsonists

Sunday:
11:30am – Mariachi Los Palmeros
1:00pm – The 77 Solution
2:30pm – Pino Farina Band
4:30pm – Hello Weekend
7:00pm – Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press

Saturday:
1:00pm – School of Rock
2:30pm – Fletcher Rockwell
4:00pm – Soul Sacrifice: A Santana Tribute
6:00pm – Anthem’s Grand Illusion: A Styx Tribute
8:00pm – Kashmir

Sunday:
11:30am – XOCHI
1:00pm – Chicago Latin Groove
3:00pm – The Gingers
5:00pm – iPop
7:30pm – Boy Band Review

Antique Taco
Making their Lakeview Taco Fest debut, owners Chef Ricky Ortiz and Creative Director Ashley Ortiz, pride themselves on their unique take on a taco.  Their two brick-and-mortar locations (one in Wicker Park and the other in Bridgeport) are wildly popular because there is so much love behind what they do.  Whether it’s the always freshly made tortillas or their use of locally source products, expect a taste sensation.  We’re particularly pumped for their pork carnitas taco which includes tamarind BBQ and bacon (yes, bacon on a taco)!

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!

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.

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.

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!

Enrique’s Place Latin Grill
Whether it’s their beef, chicken or pork tacos, authentic is the name of their game.  They bring slow cooked meats and fresh ingredients sandwiched between a tortilla.  In addition to great taco, be sure to check out their burritos and quesadillas – which, somehow, take on different flavors with pretty similar ingredients!

Iztatl Cocina Mexicana
Hailing from Jefferson Park, Iztatl Cocina Mexicana proudly serves traditional dishes including tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas, sopes, gorditas, all-day breakfast, and much more.  Being around since 2021, you know their food is fresh and tasty every time!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Teotihuacán Mexican Cafe & Restaurant

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)!

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.

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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!

You be the judge … or leave it for the experts!

The People’s Choice text-to-vote for best taco throughout the weekend!  Winner will be announced at 4:45pm on Sunday at the Luche Libre ring located at Southport & Cornelia!

2024 Winner: Tikki Masala Taco House by Tandoor Char House

 

OR, have the critics decide!  The NEW Critics Choice judging will take place on Saturday.  Winner will be announced at the Luche Libre ring located at Southport & Cornelia at 4:45pm!

2024 Winner: Prime Taco

A special thanks for this year’s judges:

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 Karyn Terrones at [email protected] or 773-584-6625 or Laura Wilke at [email protected] or 773-584-6669.

 

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.

At this time we are no longer taking food vendor applications as we are fully booked for this category.

Vending Applications

For questions or Member Applications please reach out to [email protected]

We do not provide guaranteed exclusivity to any participant/exhibitor or category. We work on a first come first serve basis when approving vendors. We would highly recommend everyone apply as early as possible. Do not wait until the last minute as sometimes the event will be completely booked and applications will close earlier than the deadline.

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