Bocaditos

Given the proliferation of boozy taco spots a few blocks north on Randolph, it would be easy to write off Bocaditos. This quiet Mexican restaurant in the West Loop does have margaritas and tacos, but there's also a ton of seafood options and entrees like enchiladas and poblano fettuccine. Food comes out a little slowly, but when it does, it’s decent. Sure, some of the chicken may be a little dry, and the carne asada might be a little salty. But the tortillas are soft, the creative drinks are tasty, and everything tastes freshly made by someone whose Ph.D. thesis was "Ensuring Cabbage Slaw Retains Its Crunch: A Study In Serving Vegetables." Sit at the bar for Happy Hour tacos and a mezcalita. Or catch up with friends in the plant-filled dining room under what amounts to an entire rainforest’s tree cover.