CHIReview
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Bárbaro Taqueria y Cantina
There are all kinds of taco spots in Chicago, and Bárbaro Taqueria Y Cantina, a small Mexican restaurant in Humboldt Park, falls right in the middle of the taqueria spectrum. It’s casual and affordable enough for a rent week date, but also feels a little like a cocktail lounge that would impress your friend who drove in from Schaumburg.
And it’s Bárbaro’s great bar that makes it more fun to hang out in than your average neighborhood taqueria, but still more relaxed than a place like Big Star, where the patio crowd can be seen from space. In fact, great drinks are the main reason we enjoy spending time here. Like their piña colada, which is made with fermented pineapple, swaps rum for mezcal, and is our favorite in the city.
For the most part, the tacos here are fine - like the standard (and somewhat bland) carne asada. But there are exceptions, like the delicious pancita (pork belly) taco, or the pescado with a beer-battered piece of whitefish and a spicy habanero sauce that sneaks up on you after a few bites. Between the tacos and the excellent drink menu, Bárbaro’s a reliable option if you’re in the area.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Pancita Taco
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Taco Bárbaro
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Pescado Taco
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Milanesa De Pollo Torta
photo credit: Sandy Noto