Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Fest

Date:	Saturday & Sunday, September 21-22
Time:	Saturday: Noon to 10pm \| Sunday: Noon to 9pm
Location:	On Southport between Addison & Newport \| Chicago
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Beneficiary:	Lakeview Chamber of Commerce

What took so long? The glorious taco will get the spotlight it has long deserved when the tortilla-wrapped fave is celebrated at this inaugural festival that kicks off on the first day of autumn.

Whether one prefers theirs with a hard or soft shell and filled with a meat, chicken, guacamole or one of dozens of imaginative ingredients, this new September happening on the Southport Corridor is guaranteed to be a popular addition to the Windy City\’s food fest scene.

There will also be special beer and taco pairings, and visitors will be able to text their vote for Chicago\’s \”Best Taco.\”

Entertainment

Saturday
3:30pm – Rico (funk/soul)
6:00pm – Get Up With the Get Downs (funk)
8:00pm – Freddy Jones Band (roots rock)

Sunday
3:30pm – Stache (pop/rock)
6:00pm – Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute)
7:45pm – Wedding Banned (pop/rock)

Read On! Participating Vendors Serving Tacos!

Café El Tapatio
3400 N. Ashland, Chicago
Featured Tacos: Grilled portabella, Al Pastor, Amber-battered shrimp
Amazing and delicious are just a few ways customers of this West Lakeview eatery describe El Tapatio which has been a neighborhood fave for more than two decades. Their extensive menu includes at least a dozen taco choices including steak, portabella, chorizo, chicken and pork. Long before tacos became fashionable, Café El Tapatio wrote the book on authentic Mexican cuisine.

Café Tola
3612 N Southport Ave, Chicago
This shoebox size spot on Southport, just north of Addison, specializes in carryouts including expresso coffee, homemade empanadas and baked goods. It may be tiny, but when it comes to authentic Mexican and Latin American food and pastries, Café Tola does it right.

Crosby\’s Kitchen
3455 N Southport Ave, Chicago
Casual and comfortable (and a corporate sibling of Smoke Daddy), this popular Southport Corridor restaurant excels with its salads, sandwiches, fish and rotisserie offerings. It\’s a family-friendly eatery where there\’s always a crowd for their lunches, dinners and celebrated weekend brunches.

Mystic Celt
3443 N Southport Ave, Chicago
Don\’t let the Irish name fool you. From their popular weekend brunches to beers, cocktails and extensive food menu, this wildly popular establishment in the heart of the Southport Corridor is full of surprises. You can bet they\’ll show imagination with their fest food offerings, including the tortilla wrapped kind.

The Pony
1638 W. Belmont, Chicago
Featured Tacos: duck, smoked beef, pork belly
Since opening in 2008, The Pony\’s neighborhood charm and laid back approach has provided an ideal backdrop for any type of crowd. Whether drinks with friends, or grabbing a bite from the mouthwatering Southwestern-inspired menu, The Pony is sure to delight with their duck, smoked beef and pork belly tacos.

Smoke Daddy
1804 W Division St, Chicago
A sibling of Southport\’s Crosby\’s Kitchen, this Wicker Park eatery has received widespread acclaim both locally and nationally since it opened in 1994. To be sure, they specialize in Chicago-style BBQ dishes as well as music. But with food as their specialty, expect some unique Smoke Daddy tacos at Taco Fest!

Taco Joint
1969 N Halsted St, Chicago
The name says it all! Expect top-notch tortilla-stuffed faves from this regional Mexican street fare eatery. A sibling of Zocalo restaurant, it has locations in River North and Lincoln Park. The menu includes tacos made with braised and grilled meats, homemade salsas and handmade tortillas from several regions of Mexico including the Yucatan, Jalisco and, of course, Mexico City.

Toons Bar & Grill
3857 N. Southport, Chicago
Featured Taco: Tex-Mex smoked brisket
It\’s all in the food details at this popular Southport mainstay that gets rave reviews for its ambience, drink selection and menu of burgers, wraps, BBQ, and sandwiches. It\’s these types of imaginative bar food dishes that will delight Taco Fest visitors with Toons\’ Tex-Mex smoked brisket and pulled-pork Asian slaw tacos.

Zocalo
358 W Ontario St, Chicago
Located in River North and a relative of the Taco Joint family, this restaurant and tequila bar wins rave reviews for its extensive Mexican food and drink menu. Nuevo Mexican might be a good way to describe Zocalo\’s culinary offering which includes taco selections topped with pineapple jam and toasted pumpkin seeds.