Itacate

Tucked inside a working butcher shop on St. Clair West, Itacate is the real deal for anyone tired of the sanitized taco spots popping up across the city. The Moreno family, who moved here from Mexico City back in 2007, run the place with an open kitchen that keeps things transparent and unpretentious. You’re eating surrounded by Luchador masks and wrestling memorabilia, which sets the right tone for a spot that prioritizes technique and house-butchered meat over fancy interior design.

Expect a counter-service setup with very little room to sit, so treat this as a takeout operation unless you get lucky with a stool. The suadero taco is the move, though the tortas are equally solid since they’re using the same high-quality cuts from the butcher counter. Don't be shy about asking the staff for a heads-up on the spice levels before you drown your food in their habanero sauce—it actually packs a punch. Bring cash, because they don't take cards, and don't expect a long, lingering dinner service.