Taco Joint Chicago – All You Can Drink Mexican Brunch

By Ryan Haber

I was invited to check out Taco Joint Chicago, a Taco Bar, with two locations in Lincoln Park and River North. I actually have been in a few times before to grab a beer and some tacos, and I’ve always liked the concept. Taco Joint  Chicago is a great spot to stop off after work and get some delicious tacos, a few beers or margaritas, and offers some great patio seating in the warmer months.

This past adventure was definitely a different experience: I was invited to come check out their new brunch offerings!

The brunch concept here is a flat fee, all-you-can-drink package. The package is $32 per person and gets you unlimited drinks and one meal. Sticking to the brunch package, my guest and I started off with a few drinks. My guest ordered a Bloody Maria- it was spicy but not overwhelming. The horseradish subtly shone through. I had a Red Michelada. Usually these are served with Modelo Especial, but I have a special love for Victoria beer, so I made the special request. If you have never heard of or had a Michelada, Micheladas are generally a mixture of hot sauce, beef boullion, and lime juice. This mix is poured into a salt-rimmed glass of ice about a third full and then topped off with beer. It ends up tasting like a Bloody Mary – but with beer! You’ll never order a Bloody Mary over a Michelada again!

We started our food binge with Chicken Chilaquiles, which had a spicy mole-like sauce that smothered the torta shell bed, served with two over-medium eggs, providing a perfect amount of liquid to give that gooeyness that we all love. My guest had the Chorizo & Eggs, which were delicious. Spicy sauteed chorizo and scrambled eggs were served with yellow rice and peas and a side of flour tortillas for DIY tacos. Once we crushed those meals we ordered a few more drinks. The Sangria was strong yet refreshing, a great hair-of-the-dog option for any avid bruncher. The Palomas was a great mix of Tequila and Squirt which was so fresh and cold, a very good option for having multiple servings.

Most people would be completely full after getting the large meals in the brunch package but we came prepared to eat, and that’s exactly what we did. We ordered a few more tacos and sides to really put us into that weekend food-coma we were searching for. The Chicken Tinga Taco was served with a spicy tomato sauce, guacamole, salsa and cabbage on top of some delicious shredded chicken in a soft corn tortilla. The Street Corn wasn’t like your standard elote, it was 3 cobs of steamed corn on a stick covered in mayo, cotija cheese, and dusted with chile piqua. Finally, we had the Baja Taco, a crispy beer battered white fish with a Chile-de-Arbol slaw served in a soft flour tortilla.

The cool spanish-tile flooring and bar made definetly gave you a slight Mexico experience and great classic-rock played loudly over the speakers. The food is good and the drinks are flowing. If you are looking for a good all-incusive boozy brunch place, Taco Joint Chicago is a great alternative to the standard  spots that most Chicagoans have visited.

Taco Joint Chicago is open from Sunday through Wednesday from 11a.m. to 10p.m., Thursday from 11a.m. to 11p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11a.m. to Midnight. Weekdays from 4p.m. to 6p.m. is Happy Hour, including $4 Modelo & Victoria cans & $2 Tacos. Wednesday, all Tequila and Mezcal is half off. Sunday, all Micheladas are $5 all day.

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