Address: 3038 W Irving Park
Neighborhood: Old Irving Park
Price Range: $$
Website: https://taquizasvaldez.com/
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Our take: Old Irving Park’s taco temple where Marine Corps precision meets Mexican soul. Chef Ivan Valdez crafts a tribute to mama’s cooking that’ll make you believe in culinary reincarnation. Bring your best bottle, pull up a chair, and watch tortilla dreams become reality. Weekend mornings transform into a panaderia paradise – this ain’t your average breakfast joint.
Wine Pairing: For weekday taco feasts, bring a crisp Albariño or a fruit-forward Garnacha to dance with those composed tacos. The pollo al limon begs for a zesty Verdejo or a mineral-driven Chablis. Weekend panaderia calls for bubbles – bring a Cava or Crémant d'Alsace to elevate those Mexican pastries to cloud nine. For a wild card that works anytime, try a dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes.
Beer Pairing: During the week, a crisp Mexican lager like Modelo Especial is your faithful companion. For craft beer lovers, try Half Acre's Pony Pilsner or Metropolitan's Krankshaft Kölsch to cut through rich tortas. Weekend mornings call for Cruz Blanca's Mexico Calling Lager or, for a brunch-worthy twist, Maplewood's Son of Juice IPA pairs beautifully with those fresh-baked pastries.
Spirits Pairing: The move here is clear: bring a bottle of premium blanco tequila like Fortaleza or Ocho for bright, citrusy cocktails that complement those lemon-kissed tacos. For weekend brunch, get creative with a bottle of Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur – splash some in your Mexican hot chocolate for a wake-up call that'll change your life. Feeling adventurous? A bottle of Del Maguey Vida mezcal brings smoky complexity to everything from ceviche to pastries.