One year of pandemic takeout Taco Tuesdays later, and here's the final ranking (top seven, all positive) from my family of four, which required some debate and consensus and does not necessarily reflect my sole opinion:
1. Hecho en Oak Park
2. Gringo & Blondie
3. Tacabron
4. Q-BBQ
5. La Parrillita
6. Mexican Republic (formerly Axcan)
7. Taco Bros
All were tried 3+ times (the top two many times more) and all really were at least passable, comforting in a town where the taco highs are best in breed and the lows are absolutely inedible.
We also had Cactus Grill once (fine but higher pricepoint for the same items and not the offerings the kids want) and New Rebozo once for a special occasion (fiesta moles, ohmygod but does not a Taco Tuesday make). Maya del Sol is not open on Tuesdays (wtf). Amerikas was not open for dinners much of the year but has some of the best concepting and cooking around. I had previously written off (for good or ill) Ino's, Taco Tu, and Chirrion, and we skewed north towards Elmwood rather than south towards Berwyn because of family logistics as this was on a route to a recurring activity (but love me some Zacatacos and Lavergne's). Some tasting notes corresponding to the above:
1. Hecho: best quality ingredients, homemade tortillas, and bar (michelada mix by the pint has been a lifesaver). Lentil soup which comes with half an avocado and a quesadilla is a steal of a decadent add-on. Best labeling (all tacos individually labeled). Best elotes on or off the cob. Asada is a nice steak and not leftover bargain bits.
2. G&B: most creative / flavorful offerings including the Gringo (barbacoa and sharp pickled onion) and the Blondie (rajas with attitude), seamless curbside pickup, churros included, add-on Mexican chocolate ice cream when needed, family pack with big rice and beans trays offered value even when individual tacos are discounted Tuesdays. Included quesadillas offer sour cream and good pico for those that aren't
cilantro y cebolla purists. Second-best asada, best al pastor. Cemitas!
3. T-bron: best guac and salsas and cheapest margaritas is a nice combo, and the whole quesabirria trend breathed second life into this place. Theirs is one-note salty goat (taco and consome) without the herbal and tomato and caramelized crusts of the best offerings, but their corn tortillas are really nice for it and the salsas offset. Asada and elotes are unfortunately middling.
4. Q: perhaps this is a surprising inclusion but their burnt end tacos are quite flavorful (smoked chicken tacos just fine too) and they offer elotes ("Mexican Corn"), a chimi-like pico, and a strong salad with Mexican flavors, plus some reasonable beers. Generous portions and their delivery when we needed it was consistently ahead of time and piping hot. Nice for a changeup.
5. La Par: particularly enjoy their chorizo tacos and mango nachos. Asada better than Tacabron but other tacos not notable in our experience. Salsas are distinct and unique but not always delectable, more in the experimental realm. Tortillas are not as reliable as 1-3.
6. MexRep: the value option - ridiculous portions on the fajitas or taco take-home kits (60% of the price of most others for the same amount of food), good bar, super staff. My daughter's favorite asada but more like a picadillo afterthought for me. For something different their fried appetizer combo offers good variety, and honestly reminds me of Carlos Murphy's of old, which I realize may not sound like a compliment.
7. T-bros: most variable, but when on, really strong. Favorite rice and beans, wildly swinging asada and corn tortillas, solid chorizo torta, and good churros.
In the Before Times I was a regular through La Lagartija, Antique Taco, and Carbón for commute takeout, and at their best the first two edge Hecho and G & B for the corresponding items at family-style scale, but it was impressive to me how the suburban competition has developed. We had Big Star and Dove's a few times through the One Off Supper Club, and while nice punctuations they didn't necessarily offer more satisfaction than a parcel of hyperlocal asada tacos and salsas.
Plus Big Star's supper club packaging style revealed that their secret salsa of choice for the walking tacos is just Cholula (!), which I had not detected independently given their scratch salsa prevalence, and I have now been able to perfect a home version, though they are doing something with a lightly fermented flavor (lager?) in their beans I can't exactly replicate but that does not detract from the homemade whole.