Tierra Caliente

They closed down? Oh noes! :(

Review doesnt need to be long.
Best Al Pastor tacos around.
2-​1-​2014: Place is closed. not sure if for remodeling or if its closed for good.

Al pastor tacos this good should be criminal, and thanks to a shady-​looking storefront I’m guaranteed to never wait in a line because hipsters wouldn’t be caught dead in this place. So freakin’ good; the meat was incredible, didn’t even need the special sauce served on the side. After walking out, I briefly considered going right back in to order two more al pastor tacos to go. I have lived in this ‘hood for a year and never had the balls to walk in… my bad. I don’t make mistakes twice.

Friendly. Al pasor tacos. In the back of grocery store. No AC! Eeek!

In search for the best al pastor tacos in Chicago, I ventured to Tierra Caliente. Don’t let the bars on the windows, the random sketchy people walking by, or the fact that this place is in the back of a grocery/​convenience store — they all add to the experience.
Tierra Caliente has al pastor on the spit and you can taste the difference. Their tacos are fully loaded with juicy al pastor meat. What was missing was the pineapple and space — literally. There are a couple of seats and stools and the cook uses a grill that’s probably 2×2.
For al pastor fans, Tierra Caliente is worth trying if you are in the area.

#3 UYE: Got Tacos? stop. Interesting. It’s a grocery store, the restaurant is at the back of the joint and it’s not what I expected at all. There is no waitress or busboy and it’s kinda shabby.
Of course someone had to bring some Coronas on this taco crawl, after all Tierra Caliente is BYOB and nothing goes better with a hot taco than some cervecita.
I must say that the taco Tierra Caliente is by far the hottest (spiciest) taco this mouth has ever tasted, with out adding salsa, and it’s right up my alley. So deliciously spicy and mouthwatering that I washed it all down with some Sangria. It’s actually kind of mind blowing because all the taco has in it is carne asada, grilled onions and their special sauce, but for some reason all those combined with the taste of «parilla» (grill) makes it a great combo.
We had a good time, no hassle. Order, eat, enjoy, pay and leave. Can’t wait to hit this spot up again.

This is where I wish my conversational Spanish sounded less like it came from a text book. Me gusta un taco de al pastor, por favor? Cilantro y cebollas tambien.
I don’t even know if that’s right. Even though English is spoken here, it was easier for Osi V to do the ordering for us and she made sure everyone got their correct taco and drink order. I love when mini mart grocery stores have a mini restaurant. It’s almost like «hey if you want to make this at home, we have everything you need – including the meat!»
Taco Crawl spot #3. I tried the Al Pastor taco and horchata. Super cheap and the taco is full of meat. The meat was good, a little dry, but once I added some salsa, all was right. I really liked the green salsa. The red salsa was holding back a little, and then BAM!, the heat kicked in. I have great confidence in two of our taco crawlers that the Tierra Caliente Special tacos – steak, onions with tierra caliente sauce was quite the spicy number. One having to down 2 cervezas in a row to chill the heat. Yes, I did say Cerveza because the place is BYOB! The horchata was super sweet, but still refreshing after some spicy salsa.
This place it totally no frills and come as you are. If you’re leery of «hole in the wall» joints, steer clear. Very small section for eating, just place your order at the food counter, sit, wait for food, eat and pay the cashier at the front when you leave.

Tierra Caliente #1, you made me feel like I was doing something illegal when I came to your taqueria and had to sneak to the back of a mini mart to find freshly prepared tacos. Next time I will wear all black, show up with a brown paper bag and quietly ask you to give up «the goods.» I’ll slip you some money and quickly scurry behind the dumpster to get my fix. If the cops try and stop me, I will fight the power and loudly proclaim my right to grilled meats as they haul me away for rehab to cure me of this addiction.
You will become hooked on TC’s tacos and it’s easy to give into your craving with prices so low. I ordered a few tacos, a Mexican Pepsi and a non-​alcoholic Sangria (le sigh). It came out to just under $ 10. The tacos were perfect for sharing because they double wrap those bad boys in two soft shell tacos. That means you can eat half before giving it to your friend and it won’t fall apart or you can take one taco off, divide the bounty and each enjoy your own taco at the same time. The Al Pastor was great («the best outside of Mexico,» according to a little lady), but I was blown away by the Barbacoa. If they ever outlaw tacos, I would do time for possession of these.
This was the third stop on Taco Tour 2012 but definilely #1 in my heart and stomach.