Eater Inside

Inside Mi Tocaya, Diana Dávila’s Love Letter To Her Mexican-American Experiences

The Logan Square restaurant opens on Wednesday

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Mar 14, 2017, 4:54pm CDT

Logan Square welcomes a cozy, new Mexican restaurant to the neighborhood on Wednesday as Mi Tocaya Antojeria begins dinner service at 2800 W. Logan Blvd. The charismatic Diana Dávila is the chef/owner and has worked with local artists to create a cozy 38-seat space that’s indicative of her personality. The South Side native is a first-generation Mexican who most Chicagoans know from her most-recent stint at Cantina 1910 in Andersonville.

While a drawing of a cactus is the restaurant’s official logo, inside there’s another symbol that may be more representative of Dávila. It’s her twin, a Latina cross between Wonder Woman and Rosie the Riveter. “Mi Tocaya” is loosely translated as “my other,” which might be the identity Dávila slips into while in the kitchen, or while at home with her two young children and her husband.

Dávila didn’t have money for a design firm to come up with restaurant. Instead she relied on her father, husband, and neighborhood to make tables to build the restaurant’s infrastructure of the old Catalpa Kitchen space at 2800 W. Logan Blvd.

There’s plenty of color inside. Toward the back of the dining room, visitors can see a mural created by Jason Brammer. He used an aged stucco effect and included plants and vines indigenous to Mexico. Near the entrance, check out the artwork underneath the bar from Mary Schumann and Edgar Solorzano. Dávila has taken advantage of the artists in Logan Square and said that helps foster a sense of community for her restaurant.

Once the snow melts later this year, Mi Tocaya will also have a patio. Summer days with a sparkling margarita in one hand and a taco in another will come soon. Check out the photos below.