Someone at one of my kids' classes, who's watched the Maxwell Street video, asked me for a list of good Mexican places for when a sibling comes to visit who likes authentic Mex. Well, once I put down a few I frequent, I realized I was on kind of thin ice informationally in terms of knowing what places were really good at.
So I thought it might be a good idea to make a list of everybody's ideas of some of their favorite places. It's not a 10 best or definitive, just a list of places you'd happily suggest to an out-of-towner as particularly good at something, and not a totally scary atmosphere (though neighborhood taqueria is fine). This is also a way to sort of rebuild some of the database of info that we left behind at whatever that other board was called.
So anyway, here are my suggestions for this short list (sorry, Rob, it mostly overlaps this post of yours
http://vitalinformation.blogspot.com/2003_12_14_vitalinformation_archive.html so you'll have to come up with new ones):
Maxwell Street Market, Sundays only 7-3, Canal street near Roosevelt
Stands offering every imaginable choice mixed in among the junk. Until Dave H. reposts his guide, your best guide is:
http://www.michaelgebert.com/gorilla
Ixcapuzalco, 2919 N. Milwaukee
Upscalish but family friendly and reasonably priced gourmet Mexican from a protege of Frontera Grill (who also has the fancier Chilpancingo downtown).
Taqueria la Oaxaquena, 3382 N. Milwaukee
Outstanding moles, some regional specialties like rabbit adobado and snapper Vera Cruz; a little nicer than "taqueria" suggests.
Tortas USA, 3057 N. Ashland
Burrito and torta (sandwich) joint with more healthy options than the average but still plenty of flavor and authenticity.
Taqueria El Milagro, 3050 W. 26th, also 1500ish on Belmont, others
W. 26th location is an actual tortilla factory and is recommended for hot off the grill tortillas, but all the guisados (stews) are worth trying.
Las Alambres, 3053 N. California
Cheerful storefront best at small things like gorditas cooked on freshly griddled masa.
Rudy's Taste, 1024 N. Ashland
Nice, fairly ambitious Guatemalan restaurant offering S. American-style grilled meats as well as Mexican and other Caribbean dishes.