One of few places to survive the nuclear blast of gentrification in Pilsen, this 30-year-old South Side staple serves everything pork. From snout to tail, and everything in between, you’ll only find carnitas on the menu during most days, with limited menu expansions on weekends that include menudo and brain tacos. $10 can feed two people, just make sure you arrive early because they open early and often close before 6 p.m.

This family-owned establishment has been in the heart of Pilsen for over 40 years. They only serve carnitas by the pound and feature a small handful of sides. Reminiscent of the street food of Uruapan, Mexico, the tacos are fully stuffed and most of the pig is utilized. They fry up chicharrones all day, every day, with an expanded menu on weekends featuring potato tacos.

If you’ve ever been to a Chicago grocery store, you’ve seen El Milagro tortillas and chips. Kitty-corner to the factory, El Milagro has a storefront taqueria that sits facing the county prison in Little Village. Often the first meal of freedom for many, El Milagro serves up a large chunk slab of unchopped skirt steak on top of a bed of rice and beans on their famous tortillas.

Visit Chicago. Meet a woman. Fall in love. Buy a home. Turn it into a restaurant. That is the epitome of the South Side culture and the recipe for success at Tio Luis Tacos. The barbacoa tacos are the standout at Tio Luis and their cucumber lemonade pairs with everything on the menu and is a great refresher during the Chicago heat. Let Luis serve you and your friends the “el Tablazo” if you’re looking to try a little bit of everything served on a large, shareable platter.

Known for being one of the most authentic street taco joints in Chicago, Paco’s serves up a taco so stuffed with meat and condiments, you’ll be glad you ventured to this Brighton Park gem. The char-grilled steak and al pastor are local favorites and are open for customization. Chicharron is king here and is fried up throughout the day and sold by the pound. They’ve since opened a second location in West Lawn neighborhood.

If you’re going to have only one item on your menu, it better be good. Your only choice here is a small or large plate of chef Jonathan Zaragoza's organically-raised, several-hour-roasted goat on handmade-to-order tortillas with hot salsa and tomato consommé. You are naturally intimate with the Zaragoza family in this 20-seate as you enjoy the layers of flavor and complexity that make up one of the most unique taco dining experiences the South Side has to offer.

You know you’re near a Zacatacos if you’re driving with the windows down – the smell of char-grilled steak and chicken fills your car hundreds of feet away. This South Side mainstay is arguably the standard when it comes to all things taco. They are known for their char-grilled chicken and overstuffed vegetarian tacos that will please most carnivorous taco junkie. The West Lawn location is the original, with four other locations on the South Side to enjoy as well.

The Clearing neighborhood of the South Side is an unexpected location to try Mexican/Asian fusion. This tiny little taco shop that sits beneath the ever-landing planes of Midway Airport offers tacos of the Asian variety. You can indeed enjoy Korean BBQ steak tacos and spicy Hawaiian pork tacos with kimchi pico de gallo without having to head north.