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Just got back from TdP. Had everything on the menu, plus the shrimp cocktail, which doesn't seem to have been described on this board yet.

It was served warm.

I watched Signor Romero make it; he put onions, cabbage and onions into a bowl; added two types of hot sauce (neither Huichol), a big blast of catsup, some precooked shrimp, hot shrimp broth, and a sprinkle of cilantro. By the time I ate it, it was warm, not hot. I asked him about it, and he said that on the Pacific coast (he mentioned Jalisco specifically), warm shrimp cocktail is the norm in restaurants, whereas (somewhat counterintuitively), cold shrimp cocktail is sold more usually on the street.

Also warm was the Romero family, just a heart-achingly nice group of people.

Hammond

_________________
“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

What I gathered was that there was a chance of them moving near Midway -
but it was far from settled.

Basically, they dont get sufficient business from the area - especially on
weekdays. Thus, they are definitely closing on the 29th. However, they
have not found a new place and dont have time to look, since they are
at the restaurant and cooking every day. They will really start looking only
after they close on the 29th.

What I gathered was, near Midway seems to be one option. Around 26th etc
may be another. Or else maybe a bit more Northside-ish. Basically, once
they close, they will spend a couple of weeks or so trying to find a good
spot, and then hope to reopen pretty soon - maybe within a month or so.
She said they havent been doing well in their area, but its clear to her from
talking to her customers that they *like* the food - there just havent been
enough of them.

Iam sort of torn on this - near Midway would be no more convenient IMHO
I did suggest they go close to a highway, which would be pretty
critical - at the moment theyre a *long* way from the 94, which is pretty
important (I still think at least one reason Honey One is doing so well is that
they are *very* convenient from a highway now). For selfish reaosns I
think they should move to the Northside - Evanston maybe (Hey, why
not, there isnt a great spot in Evanston anyway - and 2 buck fish tacos,
near Northwestern... if they stay open late, they'll do *awesome* business
IMHO. But for this they should be near campus, not as far as Rogers Park -
Cafe Salamera etc are too far away for campus-walkers). But even if they
moved to, say, Hyde Park, theyd be pretty convenient to a lot of people.

Midway... I dont know, Id almost rather see them stay where they are (at
least this way one can drop by PES at the same time when one makes the
trek down OTOH, maybe if they move Ill finally end up at Calumet Fisheries,
at the moment Ive been driving past it repeatedly, but never bothering to
stop.

Anyway. It really is a great place - and pretty much everything is good and
cheap. Unlike others I havent been completely taken with the scallops taco
yet - good, but no better than a few others IMHO. But my rankings have
fluctuated from trip to trip - even the simple soft-fish was the best very often,
and the soft-shrimp and hard-shrimp have also taken turns alternating as a
personal favourite. (The last time, I was so full I just went with a soft
shrimp for the last taco... with no onions, no tomato, just a little cabbage
and some creama plus hot sauce. Basically it was just fried shrimp - and
it was great. Maybe *thats* what they should do as an additional dish once
they move near Evanston... a "fried shrimp" dish. Better than any fried shrimp
you can get anyplace else, by a ways

c8w

Hi,

Today after Culinary Historians, I made my way to TdP with Mom2 and Helen. Josephine was supposed to round off the table, but we didn't intersect at the right moment because my cellphone was off. While I really had plans to go somewhere else, I changed them when I learned TdP was closing November 29th.

What did we order really should be what didn't we order! We ordered one shrimp cocktail, two ceviche and two tacos each of everything offered. While they regretted not having the squid, they offered crab tacos instead. Fourteen tacos, 6 drinks, two ceviche and a shrimp cocktail is $53 without tip and worth every penny.

While we were struggling over the last 4 halves of various tacos, SteveZ walks in and we plied him with our tacos.

On our way back north, we visited the South Shore Country Club to check out the dining room of Washburn Culinary School. Very elegant building which has been carefully kept up to date.



If you follow Lake Shore Drive onto South Shore Drive, when you reach 95th Street you are at a V-intersection. At the point is "Mexican Restaurant," if you take the left leg you are immediately on Ewing, which brings to you to 106th.

It is really unnecessary to go to Stoney Island and South Chicago. Though I completely understand we all do what is comfortable and known.

Regards,

_________________
Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

It’s good to see the shrimp cocktail finally get some well-deserved attention (actually it was briefly mentioned at least once in another thread, here). It’s a real good one, and I’ll certainly order it again, but it probably won’t distract me too much from the tacos. Their coctel de camaron is one of a number of good ones in Chicago but their tacos are unique in this city.


At first I found warm shrimp cocktails a bit strange but I took to them quickly. On the cold/hot question, Marta pointed out it’s easier to keep premade ones cold; when you get a hot one, you can be pretty sure it’s been freshly made (or maybe sitting out in the sun all day??). Of course, this is really not an issue at Tacos del Pacifico.

Shrimp Cocktail as Served at Tacos del Pacifico

I was excited when the red squirt bottle was delivered to my table. A new salsa, maybe homemade? Nope, catsup!

Stirred Up and Ready to Eat

ReneG,

Thanks for the link to the Islas Marias thread (I had checked out this thread for mention of the cocktail and couldn't find it...so I assumed it was not mentioned elsewhere...oops).

I had some fish tacos for breakfast this morning and found that they actually heated up quite nicely in the oven. We'll see if the rattlesnake I brought home from Case de Samuel fares as well tomorrow morning.

Hammond

_________________
“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

A sunny day, we're already at the Lincoln Park Zoo to pick up our turkey, why not... get right back in the car and spend the next hour heading to 106th and Ewing? Well, considering that Tacos del Pacifico is closing in about 2 weeks, it made sense to us-- and as always the food was fantastic and the people were sooooo nice, it really is a wonderful family place.

We talked to Martha-- as well as, of course, the irrepressible Valerie-- and she said she hopes to only be closed for about 4 weeks, and will of course let our community know as she prepares to reopen. If her plans sound a lot firmer than they were a week or two ago, I think it's in part because of the encouragement she's gotten from us that there's a real market for their food in a more active neighborhood. So maybe as early as New Year's, she'll be back.

Here's some food porn to tide everyone over until they reopen, though remember, they aren't closed yet! (Call before you go around Thanksgiving, though, she said something about being closed certain days but I forget exactly which-- maybe Thursday and Friday.) The tostado de ceviche, which I had for the first time today, wonderfully light and refreshing:



Scallop, octopus and fish tacos:



And from another angle:



The most interesting thing we saw coming back north; truck with snowplow in front and a globe in the back:



I wonder where the world is going...

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I visited last night and was entertained by the wonderful Valerie also. The tacos were great. I enjoyed the ceviche tostado also. I did confirm that the last date they will be open is Tuesday, November 29.

I have scheduled dinner there from 5:00-7:00 pm to help eat up there inventory. If anyone wants to consider putting this on their agenda please do.

_________________
Bruce
Plenipotentiary
bruce@bdbbq.com

Raw meat should NOT have an ingredients list!!

Should Tacos del Pacifico close (and in a just world, that would be unthinkable), MikeG's pix will remain as a lasting testament to their greatness. The fish chunks glistening in the sunlight, the gleam off the crisp fried tortilla, I weep...

_________________
“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Mike,

Fantastic TdP pictures, you sure you don't want to do an LTHForum calendar this year?

Enjoy,
Gary

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Countdown to Götterdämmerung:
Schedule for Last Week of Operations of Tacos del Pacifico
at the current 106th Street Location:
Mark ye well!


Amata, Lucantonius and I had a predictably delicious and, thanks to the company (LionRock, edeben and their respective s.o.'s), thoroughly delightful and long lunch at TdP today. As we were slowly getting ready to consider taking steps to organise ourselves to do that which one must do in the course of departing from a restaurant, Marta gave me a note on which she had listed the hours for the final week or so of operations at Tacos del Pacifico at its current location.

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00-7:00
Thursday (T-Day): 10:00-2:00
Friday: CLOSED
Saturday to Tuesday: 10:00-7:00

As always, the food was great and seeing Marta and her family made the experience all the better. May their move be swift and smooth and may they find the deserved success in the new location.

Antonius

_________________
Alle Nerven exzitiert von dem gewürzten Wein -- Anwandlung von Todesahndungen -- Doppeltgänger --
- aus dem Tagebuch E.T.A. Hoffmanns, 6. Januar 1804.
________
Na sir is na seachain an cath.

I had to make a delivery in Hyde Park today so I trekked a bit further south with fish tacos on the brain. I forgot that it was closed on Mondays. I almost cried.

_________________
"Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es."

~ Brillat-Savarin ~

I feel your pain.......................

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Just an update - talked to Marta a few minutes ago to confirm the hours - there is
a (good) change. She will now, in addition to the above hours, also be open on
Friday - from 12 to 7! She asked me to let LTH know (however, please do
call ahead if you can and confirm - its a long way there).

This is good news IMHO - Friday ought to be the lightest traffic of the
year, and thus the fastest-ever commute to TDP Maybe now I can make
it *twice* more before it closes


c8w

c8w,

Thanks for the update. I plan on going today, Saturday 11/26, at 1:15pm with my wife, who has not been to TdP yet. Be great to meet a few other LTHers there for lunch.

Hummmmm, maybe I'll put it on the Event board for short notice.

Enjoy,
Gary

[Edited to reflect correct day of the week]

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

LTH,

Lunch at Tacos del Pacifico was, in a word, terrific! We had quite a crowd, 13-LThers, and tried our best to show the Romero family how much we appreciated their efforts and that we are eagerly awaiting the move to a new location.



See you soon, dibs on the first Crisp Scallop Taco at the new restaurant.

Enjoy,
Gary

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Great shot Gary.

Mary and I had an outstanding time today with fellow LTH'ers. The scallop, shrimp, and fish tacos were sublime as usual. The service was polite, attentive, and served with the cutest smiles.

I'll be right behind the Ultimo!

_________________
Bruce
Plenipotentiary
bruce@bdbbq.com

Raw meat should NOT have an ingredients list!!

Even though I couldn't make it, it brought a great smile to my face to see some of my favorite people standing in front of one of my favorite places.

Hope you're feeling better Lucantonio!

Hammond

_________________
“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Hammond,

Lucantonio seemed in good spirits as he patiently explained the inner workings of something seemingly complex to Pigmon.



Great good fortune is indicated for TdP as evidenced by the rare appearance of the Floating Jalapeno of Jalisco.



Enjoy,
Gary

_________________
Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

In the better late than never department, the Chow Poodle and I made a stop at Tacos de Pacifico on our way back from Michigan this afternoon. We probably missed all of the LTH group by an hour or two, arriving at around 4:30 P.M. I would like to thank you all for leaving enough fish, shrimp and scallops behind for me to enjoy a quick snack on my way back home. I will really miss this place and I look forward to its (hopefully) quick reopening.

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Gary, thanks for organizing today's lunch -- great to see everyone and the food was delicious, of course. And it was very moving when Gary told Marta "We love you" and she was close to crying. I had to blink away a few tears myself.

Amata

I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it on Saturday for two obvious reasons*. However, I did manage to squeak in a visit before they closed this evening. I did call and Mario mentioned they were nearly out of stuff, but come on over and he'd fix me up with what was available. When I reached there, it was fuller than I'd ever seen it - with about eight shrimp cocktails visible. They were out of shrimp. There has been an outpouring of support in their last days at this location. I was happy with a soft fish taco and a scallop taco.

This time I did take a computer along, to share the excitement their establishment has generated. They were quite happy to read** and see the pictures


and pose for a goodbye shot. (Note they've taken the sign down).



TdP served up some fantastic tacos. I hope they reopen soon - somewhere where they do well and whereever it is I plan to go.

If you haven't been to TdP and you're still wondering enough already, why all this excitement over a two buck taco? (if you've been, of course you know why). Maybe this will provide some more insight into the level of detail that elevates the tacos at TdP. As my wife couldn't make it, I asked if I could have two scallop tacos to go (first time I've taken out). "No problem," Mario replied, adding that he would make it with two tortillas instead of just one so it would hold up better. When I reached home, A2Fay opened up the bag to this

I had a very small window of opportunity to take this picture, I'm sure you understand

*in case it isn't so obvious - LTHers and the tacos

**

stevez, Valerie enjoyed the first statement (and proudly shared it with her friend). However, she was quite vehement and unequivocal in denying that she ever said that.


I don't know if I can make it again before they close, but I'll try.
Open 12-7 tomorrrow (Monday) and 10-7 Tuesday

TdP makes Time Out:
http://sweettooth.typepad.com/mst/2005/ ... #trackback


by Misty Tosh - writer of the Ravishing Dish "column" for http://www.centerstage.net

the drive out 106th street was/is still too daunting for me, so i wussed out and had Baja Fresh last week in Oakland instead...

I came to this site a day too late!!!!!!!!! I have been wanting to go for fish tacos for a week when we decide to go it has been closed for 3 days Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr please reopen I must try them, if not anyway I can hire them? to cook in my home and we can have a party?

any reopening news please tell me!!!!!!

a

I'm sure some of you guys know this family by now and may be in contact on where they are planning on moving? It's been a couple weeks now and maybe they have an idea by now?

Please let us know and count me in on someone who will be there if they move closer to the city.

Surprising as it may seem, considering that tourist maps rarely show anywhere south of 31st Street (or west of Damen), Tacos del Pacifico's former location on 106th Street, was, in fact, within Chicago city limits -- indeed several miles north of the southernmost border, 138th Street.

_________________
LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

^

I guess I meant closer to downtown, where I live.

I don't know what the best location for them would be. Honestly probably somewhere near Wicker Park/Bucktown since there is a large mexican contigent there AND you get a lot of the young hipsters who like to eat more authentic cuisine and cuisine that is unique to the city.

Well, your belief that Wicker Park/Bucktown hipsters, which are a fast-dying breed, care about authenticity is rather flawed. As is your belief that hipsters in general care about authenticity -- one need only look at the food at, say, Privata or Sultan's Market to realize that mistake.

I don't pretend to know where they should open up. But given the rents and the demographics in Wicker Park, I think that would be a big mistake.

_________________
Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

So I guess all the forumers that went to this place and seemed to know the owners have left? Am I correct in thinking that this place is just a bygone memory that I will never get the pleasure of trying?

As far as I know, the owners planned to relocate, but when I visited TdP late last year, there seemed to be no definite plans in place. I believe that if and when they re-open, that information will definitely be publicized on this forum.

Hammond

_________________
“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

I grew up on the East Side for 18 years, lived on 106th & Avenue B and had no idea this place existed. I wish I did!

When I went to college we moved to Munster, IN but still frequent the East Side regularily

If your looking for great Mexican food down the street from the old Tacos del Pacifico - Try Taco Mex off 106th & Torrence

Taco Mex
(773) 734-4321
10658 S Torrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60617

The crispy beef & chicken tacos are to die for, and so is the mole, the pozole, and if you love soup try the "Carne en su Jugo"

They will be opening up a location in Munster in 2 months

I should put up pics later!


I found this website by doing a search for "Club 81 Too" and found all my favorite places on the East Side! (Calumet Fisheries, Club 81, etc.)

Have you had Heinie's Chicken or Loncar's Chicken?