El Potosi

So this place is far from glamorous, and even qualifies as a hole in the wall, but overall the dining is good! I got a carne asada burrito and my husband ordered three tacos, one pastor, and one lengua. The carne asada in my burrito was somehow different than that in my husband’s taco, but they were good in they’re respective ways. My burrito was pretty greasy, so I’m not so sure I would order the burrito again. I was jealous of my husband’s tacos. All three were spot-​on representatives of what that type of taco should be.
The red and green salsas were both very good. I’ll definitely go back and try more items.

3.5, really
Ok so here’s the upside: rice and beans are good; the lengua, asada, & pastor are seasoned on point AND the lady cooking is very very nice, albeit have to speak slow and thrice just to get my order across.
Now the iffy part– she goes back and forth handling money and cooking food — ok meats get cooked but she handled the onions and cilantro with bare hands (no wash)… So kinda ew??? Otherwise this would’ve been a solid 4.
The price hike is a lot $ 1.90 to $ 2.50

Love the patio, byob but best of all the veggie burrito!!! Fresh and cooked to perfection. Go here and not to the new place next door who has mushy burritos. And no patio! And the owner/​chef/​waitress is so nice and welcoming.

El Potosi. There are few places like it, a true family operation. I’ve had the good fortune of enjoying meals on the patio for several years, and although I no longer live around the corner, my taste buds summon me back every couple of months.
The salsa verde and complimentary chips set the meal off right. I usually go with tacos that feature the perfect blend of cilantro and veggies (carne asada, al pastor and lengua are all on point), or the Bistec a la Mexicana platillo. Both options are fantastic.
It’s also BYOB. The proprietor is always smiling and she makes you feel right at home on the patio. Truly one of the most relaxed environments to enjoy a meal, you feel like you’re on your own porch.

Woman is a scam artist, or at least tried to scam this gringo. Her restaurant put out out certs on
, I bought 1. I figured it was an excuse to finally try a neighborhood establishment. When I got in there, She was speaking decent amount of english up to the point she was denying the use of the cert. She then offered no tax and she’d keep the cert too, thats a 10 dollar cert, I’m not buying a 100 worth of food to get no tax. She’s a scammer and will never go back to this joint

I was working behind this place for 2 days and I’ve eaten here twice and I actually felt good after eating the vadgeterian burrito. This place is great and the woman Maria who runs the kitchen does a great job making the most Authentic Mexican cuisine. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but the food that comes out is damn good, I’d definitely eat here again this is real Mexican food

The patio alone is worth 5 stars. Good food. Cute building. Friendly service. Will definitely be back to enjoy warm summer nights by eating tacos and having some drinks on the patio. Highly recommend.

Oh Potosi! Señora Potosi es autentico for sure. She is coming up some real Mexican standards in that kitchen. The food is pretty darn good. It’s not give stars, but you’ll be happy with your order. After some years of eating here, I have a few pointers for you:
— watch out for the enchiladas with red sauce. The salsa is homemade and freaking SPICY. It will ruin your (next) day. So be careful.
— the patio is one of Potosi’s best features. Take advantage of it on a nice evening.
— honestly, when I’ve ordered avocado as an extra on my tacos, I get these razor thin slices. Probably better to just stick with the traditional preparation!

La Señora who runs this place is really nice and warm. She reminds me of all that a little vato misses about being in Mexico. The peoples. Her food carries that homemade flavor. It’s not flashy or anything new just good humble food. Tortas is what I’m about. So those always feel right from here. As someone else mentioned it does feel a bit like San Luis Potisi.

2.5 rounded up.
just had three tacos. chicken was bland and the picadillo was mushy. the star was the carne asada which was tasty. i’m not so sure i would go back yet…

The food here is made with love. I always feel like family when I eat here.

My boyfriend and I stumbled across this place while we were waiting for his car to get fixed nearby. We love the hole-​in-​the-​wall type places and this one was shouting at us to try it from across the street.
When we got there, I’m pretty sure the entire family who owns this place were just sitting outside, having beers and enjoying the end of the day. They were soooo friendly and it was really fun.
We ordered beef and chicken tacos and they were delicious (cash only!). We are a little far from this place, but we talk about going back all the time. I’m looking forward to the next oil change because we’ll definitely be coming here as much as we can!

Definitely not a place to sit down and enjoy a meal, though there are a very few small tables available both in and outside and usually no more than 2 people in the kitchen. Carryout is the norm here and definitely ok with me. The tacos, burritos, and enchiladas are all decent and very cheap for the servings they provide, and the plates all come with a side of rice and refried beans. The horchata is ice cold and perfectly creamy and sweet. Whenever I am in the mood for real mexican food, this is where I go and will continue to as long as I am in the area.

If Elston were made of river water instead of asphalt, this would surely be the most romantically ramshackle taqueria in all of Chicago. Even so, it’s a charming little setting if you prefer a little rust and lack of fresh paint with your décor… the rustically decorated patio features some rusty water pails, a miniature bicyclist, and potted plants.
This place is captained by the same amigo who’d sometimes close San Luis on Diversey mid-​day for no reason other than simply: «Siesta!» While not dressed in the genius accoutrements of a place like L’Patron, the preparations here (tending towards well done and flavorful meats, lightly grilled tortillas) put staple tacos like carne asada, pollo, and huevos con chorizo well above most of the rest of the Chicago Taco Wolfpack. I could never give the sister location San Luis five stars because the violently sobbing soap operas on television would always trigger a false sense of distress over problems that didn’t really exist. But on a summer evening lingering in the shade of a worn canvas awning along the Elstonside, this place can be just about perfect.

BYOB patio but BYOF! Bring Your Own Fly-​swatter! It’s nice to eat outside locally AND byob, but, if you keep still for 10 seconds at least 5 flies will be invading your plate. I’m watching actually 6 on my finished plate which has been sitting for at least 10 minutes right now. So yes, it’s an understatement to say the flies are far more attentive than the staff.
I got the carne asada torta and the steak pieces were all extremely fatty. A few were just pieces of fat without any steak attached to them. I really wanted to like this place. I’ll probably give it another chance since its 1) byob 2) cheap 3) close 4) patio. But I’m bringing a fly-​swatter and opting for chicken!

I read about this place in the Tribune. Just a quick bi-​line. I am a big fan of this El Potosi. BYOB is a big plus. Tacos are served both ways. With Lettice and Tomatoes. or the way I like it onions and Cilantrio. Great food Better prices. Just like Mexico.

We have been coming to this place for years. I highly recommend it for take out. The steak tacos with the onions and cilantro are the best I have ever had. The guacamole is made fresh to order. This place is a total hole in the wall, but it serves up the beat Mexican food in the neighborhood.

I’m thrilled that this is the closest taqueria to my house.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that it looks «scary,» like they are afraid of the sanitation conditions. But I disagree! Just because it is in a little tiny yellow house and the front porch is crammed with decorations doesn’t mean it’s not clean.
I think their tacos are pretty excellent. I like the crispy pork skin, and my roommate likes their chile rellenos. The people working there are always nice. The interior is almost comically small, and I love the décor: photographs of Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, and Selena. Overall, I find the restaurant charming.
My only complaint is that, almost every time I go there, they give me one incorrect taco. But that’s ok, it kind of adds to the charm.

This tiny shack has been cranking out delicious food in my neighborhood and only just now have I managed to try it. Shocking!
The steak burrito was delicious, if a little small for $ 5.25 even though the carry out menu indicates $ 4.95. But it’s made with tender, well seasoned meat and gets a thumbs up. The horchata was very good, a little heavy on the cinnamon, and served in a 32 oz cup. I also tried a chicharon taco (pork skin). This meat appeared to be stewed and was spicy delicious. It was just slightly fatty without being greasy. Good taco… unique and tasty. The red and green sauces both were very good and neither was pungent enough to burn this gringo’s mouth.
I’m not a huge fan of al fresco dining but there is so little foot traffic on this block of Elston that it might be fun to eat on the little funky patio they have out front.
Good little spot. I’m glad I stopped in. I’ll be back soon.

I would love to come to El Potosi with Nancy Pelosi. Except that she would become Nancy Pe-​lo-​SEE, according my resident Spanish-​speaking roomie. Madame Speaker doesn’t seem like the taco type, anyway.
After zipping by here so many times I finally stopped with a friend on a nice Memorial Day weekend Saturday. I think what I like best is it feels as if you’ve gone to some new town. The crazy haphazard and full-​of-​junk spot sports a Key West, or Southern California, or Mexico vibe, so as others have pointed out, authentic. And I like that very much.
And what can one say about tacos? Pretty difficult to make really bad ones, I think. So, I have only had the chicken and steak tacos/​platter, and it was very satisfactory and a good value. I would like to return for some other treats. Very friendly staff there, too.
Nice little unpretentious outdoor spot for lunch when you’re shopping the Avondale area (Target, Home Depot, Discount Pet supplies.)