Big Star

Tacos, Whiskey, Hillbilly Music...sounds like Heaven.

On the run? Just jog on up to the pickup window and grab a few tacos to go.

It might seem incongruous based on the unpretentious vibe of the place, but given the scarcity of street spots--and saturation of businesses--near the North/Damen/Milwaukee intersection, your best bet might just be valet.

They have the best tacos you can ever have. But on top of that, the best thing about this place is its atmosphere. My friend and I had a couple of drinks here and we absolutely adored the place just as much as the drinks and food. Recommend coming here if you haven’t

Arrive early at this first-come, first-served Wicker Park hub, where you’re likely to experience a wait-time upwards of an hour, especially during the summer months. Is it worth it? That all depends on what you order. Chef Paul Kahan’s (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican) authentic take on taco classics are certainly wait-worthy. Particularly of note are the pineapple-topped al pastor, the taco de...

"Hipsters" pile into Paul Kahan's "affordable" Wicker Park Mexican for "flavorful" tacos "like you've never tasted" plus "delicious", "strong" margaritas, "solid" beers and a "top-notch bourbon selection"; it's cash-only and the "modern garage-type" space can seem "acoustically tragic", but it's still "always packed", especially on the happening patio ("if you can grab a spot, never leave");...

Hottest (and sometimes hardest to get into) bar of 2009 from the guys who brought you Blackbird, Avec and The Violet Hour. Fire up with lesser-known American whiskeys and small-batch tequilas as you kick back in wooden booths and admire the concrete flooring and exposed light bults. But seriously, wait for a table to open up on the 90-seat front patio, order a round of Micheladas and watch...

This Wicker Park crowd-pleaser follows all the rules of a down-home honky-tonk (albeit a fake one). It doesn't take reservations, the decor approximates a dive diner, the music is loud, and it's usually crammed with boys in fedora hats throwing back shots of whiskey and tequila. While you can eat a meal here for under $10, at heart, Big Star is a seriously upscale taqueria that does not mess...

Big Star is a bourbon and beer-focused, taco-slinging, late-night honky-tonk in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborh...ood. Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Cary Taylor’s menu, inspired by authentic Mexican street food, is complemented by an extensive house-selected single barrel bourbon program. Housed in a defunct 1940's gas station, the taqueria’s soundtrack of classic...