Lakeview Taco Fest: Chicago’s Premier Taco Event on Southport Avenue for 2024

From the Lakeview-Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, Taco Fest is returning on Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, 2024, on Southport between Roscoe and Addison for delicious tacos, live music, and so much more!

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

Taco Vendors

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 sourced products, expect a taste sensation. We’re particularly excited 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 participating in Lakeview Taco Fest. The reason is that 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 before 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 hosted every genre of music, featuring some of the biggest names in live music and comedy. Stop by for a show or pop in for a drink, and you’ll often find regulars from the close-knit Roscoe Village community 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 frescas 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 their 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 at every event they partake in.

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

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 wanting 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.

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 among 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 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, and cilantro lime crema is one not to miss.