They also have something alled a picnic pack that includes 4 pounds of carnitas, beans, rice, 2 types of salsa, tortillas, chips, plates and plastic cutlery for $39.95. It's come in very convenient on multiple occasions and is the best tasting deal in Joliet.

Be forwarned, I have stopped by late during the week (7:30) whenthey have only had a small amount or no carnitas left.

There's more information on Carnitas don Rafa in Crest Hill here:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3104&p=375830&hilit=Don+rafa#p375830

jimswside wrote:
Syl's Steakhouse
829 Moen Ave
Rockdale, IL 60436
(815) 725-1977
http://www.syls.com

Hit syl's for a round of drinks Friday, $10 round of PBR & Jim Beam made it only a single round.

Definitely old school, the taqueria and some bars down the street piqued my interest more.

Taqueria is Tacos El Comal, went last night after a pizza in Shorewood didnt do the trick, above average al pasor & carne asada, some kickin salsas and fresh chips. $1.50 tacos. I can see going back.

Tacos El Comal
309 Moen
Rockdale, IL.

Meanwhile in what I believe to be the old Amanacer Tapatio place...

Taqueria Los Paisanos
573 N Collins St, Joliet
(815) 722-0521

I am now working to the north of Joliet and will be sampling a few of the area restaurants.

While I had not been to Amanacer Tapatio, my visit to this place was great. Had a Chicken Milanesa Torta and an El Pastor Gordita and both were solid. The meat was well prepared (Milanesa had a nice crunch and the El Pastor, some nice crunchy bits) and the toppings fresh. The red sauce, mild and the green had a nice bite.

While waiting for my order I noticed several of the Especiales de la Semana of Bistec a la Mexicana coming out of the kitchen and it looked very tasty. Eager to give that a try.

I did hear my server mention 'house made tortillas' but I could of sworn I saw them dished out of a large long bag in the kitchen. Maybe...

Well worth my stop!

Friday nights have been cheap joliet tacqueia night lately.

Los Comales joliet location last Friday night, been to a couple of their other locations elsewhere with mixed results.

Al pastor was the best this visit, followed by steak and flank steak tacos. Fresh sliced avocado as well. Friendly staff.. $10 for a full belly, all good.

Los Comales
510 Collins Street
Joliet, IL.

Cheap shots and drafts @ Bedrocks in Shorewood before sliding into Joliet for some Friday Night Tacos.

Saw the sign for this spot a few weeks ago, put it on the short list.
Hole in the wall spot in a tiny strip mall.
Laid back cats running the place.

First visit & first stop so I went light, (1) asada(steak), (1) abodaba(pork), (1) birria. Also a sliced avocado. Chips and squirt bottle sauces at the table were good, green great. Tacos were really good, hard to choose which was best(abodaba). Steak & pork were packed with flavor, birria was tender and good as well.

Thinking the birria platter will be ordered on my next visit.





abodaba taco:



birria taco:



Birrieria Y Taqueria Ochoa
2210 W. Jefferson (Route 52) Unit B
Joliet, IL.


went back to Carnitas Don Rafa as the second stop, not to good. Carnitas were pretty much inedible due to salt content, al pastor wasnt as good as my last visit. Place was empty at 7:30 on a nice Friday night........

While I haven't visited the place, in the last couple of months I've read some positive articles about Just Toni's.

Operating in an old Brown Chicken's location, the restaurant is run by Frank Portillo's daughter Toni.

Most of what I've heard is positive reports on their stuffed burgers. Their website has a couple of links to local newspaper reviews.

Pretty positive reviews on Yelp too. Something to consider if you're looking for fairly cheap eats and don't feel like Mexican food.

Just Toni's
2301 W Jefferson
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 729-9532
Hours: everyday 10:30 AM - 09:00 PM
http://www.justtonis.com

Yelp reviews http://www.yelp.com/biz/just-tonis-joliet

WCIBN wrote:Pretty positive reviews on Yelp too. Something to consider if you're looking for fairly cheap eats and don't feel like Mexican food.

hit Just Toni's a couple times about a month ago, posted some pics of their mushrooms on a Browns chicken thread.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6356&p=418079&hilit=browns#p418079


Other than the nostalgia of the Browns like shrooms the food was mediocre, and each time I left I wished I had gone across the street to Birriria Y Taqueria Ochoa instead.

Cemenos Pizza is a pizza option I have had a couple times now & can recommend, this past Friday night was a really nice thin crust sausage and garlic pizza (well done). Not a cracker crust , just a little thicker, but crisp with nice flavor. Quality sausage and a ton of garlic. Good piping hot from the pizza oven, good cold out of the fridge the next a.m.

Cemenos Pizza
1630 Essington
Joliet, IL.

http://www.cemenospizza.com

popped into (2) spots on the East side and a handfull of bars in between for cheap High life drafts - Joliet seems to be the town of $1 & $1.50 pints, even on a Friday.

First place is a lunch counter in a supermercado , Cheap as hell, pretty dang good.


Supermercado la Loma
410 Walnut
Joliet, IL.





Al pastor - solid:



asada - also good;



nice guys running the spot, poppin hot salsa, overall i liked this place alot.

2nd stop was a food truck parked outside a restaurant in a rough little corner of E. joliet. Food had some flavor and heat.

Pollo Veloz Carbonico
1826 E. Washington
Joliet, IL.



Pollo and an asada:



Passed by about anoother 1/2 doz. more spots i want to hit.

Is Supermercado Joliet closed? One of my favorite goto places in Joliet busted by the Feds.

Joliet grocery owner charged with selling narcotics



Joliet police and federal authorities allege that cocaine and heroin were sold out of the Supermercado at Collins and Cass streets in Joliet. (Steve Schmadeke, Chicago Tribune / January 7, 2013)
RELATED

[img]http://www.trbimg.com/img-50eb807e/turbine/ct-ct-met-joliet-grocery-store.jpg-20130107/600[img]
East Cass Street & Collins Street, Joliet, IL 60432, USA
By Steve Schmadeke, Chicago Tribune reporter
8:14 p.m. CST, January 7, 2013

The Supermercado near downtown Joliet is a brightly painted community hub frequented by Mexican residents who can buy groceries, wire money home or find an apartment among the notices posted outside on the avocado walls.

Motorists driving by the busy intersection of Collins and Cass streets know it for the enticing smells rising from the taco truck parked just behind the store. There's even a barbershop above the market.

But Joliet police said the popular grocery also was the center of a very different kind of commerce. Its longtime owner, Ramiro Sanchez, 54, ran a narcotics organization from the shop, even keeping his office shelves stocked with kilos of cocaine, according to police and recently unsealed federal charging documents.

Joliet police have been aware of Sanchez's drug activity for years, police Chief Michael Trafton said, but weren't able to build a case against him until an informant began cooperating in the summer of 2011 and police turned to the FBI for assistance.

Trafton and Sgt. Jeremy Harrison, who runs the department's narcotics unit, said Sanchez was one of the area's top drug dealers. Police seized 3 kilograms of cocaine and 7.5 kilos of heroin — likely the department's largest heroin seizure ever, they said, and worth millions on the streets. Ten people were arrested as part of the investigation, dubbed Operation Red Baron, police said.

"I've never seen this much heroin in my career," Harrison said. "It's like the lightning bolt."

Charges were filed in October and unsealed shortly before Christmas, as Joliet police and the FBI continued to investigate. Sanchez was arrested in December and released after posting bail.

According to the charges, Sanchez touted his illegal wares with the same marketing as his groceries, telling the informant the kilo of cocaine he was offering for around $28,000 was "quality."

The informant paid Sanchez at the grocery store, handing him a brown bag stuffed with cash that Sanchez tucked into a desk drawer, according to the charges. The next day, the informant returned to Sanchez's office at the Supermercado, where Sanchez took a kilogram of cocaine off his office shelf, wiped it with a rag and handed it to the informant after taking an extra $1,000, court records show.

Sanchez also asked for more money or a share of the cocaine, and the informant later paid him an extra $500, records show.

Interesting, I drove by last weekend on the way to Antononilco and it appeared open. Ill have to take a closer look tonight when i am at the casino.

It would be a shame if they are closed.

Drove by the supermercado last night, Open, Taco truck in back open as well.

Thanks. I would hate to lose it. Always stop by with my boys before and after Frisbee Golf.

jimswside wrote:Drove by the supermercado last night, Open, Taco truck in back open as well.

Was still open on Saturday morning, Jan 12, 2013.

jimswside wrote:
Bent an elbow with some friendly folks for a few hours then headed out for some tacos @ Atotonilco:

enjoyed a few tacos from here, Al Pastor(decent), atotonilco(carne asada, crema & tomatos), and carne asada(spaced out and didnt ask for cilantro and onions - i forget folks cant read my mind) - both good. also some sliced avocado hit the spot,

I ended up at Atotonilco on Saturday morning. I had three tacos a la carte-- pollo, atotonilco and lengua. I enjoyed all three, but probably the Atotonilco the most. They do seem a little higher priced than expected for Joliet ($2.50 on average). I would think $1.50 to $2.00 would be more expected. Still, they were pretty loaded with meat, so it wasn't a bad value, really. I'd go back for sure.

bonmot wrote:I ended up at Atotonilco on Saturday morning. I had three tacos a la carte-- pollo, atotonilco and lengua. I enjoyed all three, but probably the Atotonilco the most. They do seem a little higher priced than expected for Joliet ($2.50 on average). I would think $1.50 to $2.00 would be more expected. Still, they were pretty loaded with meat, so it wasn't a bad value, really. I'd go back for sure.

I agree the prices are on the higher end for tacos in Joliet, but the quality is there.

I also like that they have beer if its not the last stop of the night.

Vela's
226 East Cass Street Joliet, IL 60432

Is a good very reasonably priced Mexican place. I think the food here is on the higher end of quality of you standard Mexican restaurant. This is one of my go to places in Joliet as the food has never let me down and its right by the baseball stadium. Inside of Vela is one step above a dive bar for decor but don't let that deter you. Best part is if you can catch some Spanish karaoke if you show up on the right night.

First off apologies for no pictures, gotta replace my laptop so my cameras memory card is getting packed.

Chinese food out around Joliet and further west has been disappointing for me. Just as easy to point the vehicle west from Martucky and be in Chinatown in an hour than risk trying many spots. I have had my eye on Hot Pan Noodles and Dumplings for about a year now, typically Friday night is taco night when we head out in Joliet, but we decided to give Hot Pan a shot. They tout housemade noodles and dumplings/potstickers and serve cheap beer. Sounded good.

Small strip mall spot with a 4 seat bar & the stovetop and cooking area right behind it. Some booths are set up for hotpot. Ordered ups some pork pot stickers, noodles with spare ribs and soy sauce and some fried rice(filler). Watched as the stovetop was put to use by a young cook, then the serious looking owner took over. Almost felt like we were in her kitchen as she cranked out steaming bowls of noodles.

Pot sitckers were really good, the filling was solid, but I enjoyed how tender the potsticker was. Noodle dish was good as well, nice braised spare ribs with chewy in a good way noodles and broth. I need some more visits to get a true feeling for this spots food.

I definitely see a return trip or two to try some more of the items here, especially the pan fried noodles and some dumplings.

Hot Pan Noodles & Dumplings
2302 Essington
Joliet, IL.

815-254-6088

Been back to Hot Pan a couple times, still impressed by the potstickers.

Got out and explored a little this past Friday, learned of a spot called Andy and Sophies Tavern, polish neighborhood bar a couple blocks off 53. Supposed to serve a killer lunch, but we hit them up for some drafts and a shot after 5 p.m..

If they have food left from lunch they offer it, luckily they were still serving a warm sliced beef sandwich for $5, pretty good stuff, definitely going back for the lunch when they are slicing corned beef and slinging some soup they make in house. Other days one might find cabbage rolls, and or polish sausage.

Loved this place from the sweet older polish lady running the spot telling me and my buddy she would "hook us up" in regards to the beef sandwich, to the cheap drafts and corner bar feel.

Guess they were written up in the trib a whiles back:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999 ... es-lunches

Andy & Sophies Tavern
931 N. Hickory
Joliet, IL.

Stories of some good fried chicken from back in the day at a place called Stefanich has put them on my radar. Now a Mexican spot, but rumor is they purchased the fried chicken recipe when they took over(loncarsesque ?). Ill be checking this spot out Wednesday - worst case ill be getting some tacos.

Restaurant Stefanich
457 N. Scott
Joliet, IL.

http://www.stefanichrestaurant.com/

Andy and Sophie's Tavern had been on my mind all week. when could I get in for lunch? Yesterday after grabbing some more than solid fried shrimps at Pier 59 Shrimphouse in Shorewood I still found myself with the munchies and thirsty.







Corned beef day at Andy and Sophie's...$5 sandwich or $6 plate with cabbage. Nothing better than some shots, beer and a sandwich on rye sitting at a bar. Bread held up to mound of warm, juicy & flavorfull corned beef quite well, served with a pickle spear and a large jar of horseradish.

Next visit is going to be on a Thursday when they are doing cabbage rolls.

Joliet is where I hang out pretty much every Friday night. Gotta dig deep but one can eat good(lots of tacos) & have a good time.I Heard of some social organizations doing fish frys and other meals on Fridays specifically. Hit up the Croatian Cultural Club first, pretty hopping spot at 6 on a Friday. Maybe 50-70 folks eating rotisserie chicken or grilled pork chops. $9. Had a couple cheap $1.25, & cold drafts before heading outside by the grills where he crowd was a little younger. They start their fish fry back up in September I believe, but the spot is open daily at 2 to the public. There was a band getting ready to go but we had places to go. Going back.

I did spy an event coming up on 7/21 on the website. A picnic at the lodge with poticia, bbq lamb and cevapcici... Gonna have a hard time staying away from here next Sunday.

Croatian Cultural Club
1503 Clement
JOliet, Il.

http://www.croatianculturalclub.com

Next stop was the Knights of Columbus #4400. East side of town, almost missed the turn. Cool spot, bar, dining room, etc. had to get something here, I had a $5 fried fish sandwich - pollock. It worked, 2 well fried pieces of fish they appeared to be breading and frying to order served on fresh chewy bread. Cheap drafts going on as well. They do fried chicken here as Welles other shrimp/fish options.
Another spot on the rotation.

Knights of Columbus #4400
1813 e. Cass
Joliet, IL.

http://www.kofc4400.com

Also hit Stefanich, mentioned above, a couple times now. I asked about the fried chicken and was told they dont serve it. They do have some good arachera tacos as well as chips and table salsa. Cold drinks and festive.

All right, back in business, - had a few hundred pictures in my camera that I had no where to upload.

Spots mentioned upthread(addresses and links upthread as well):

Andy and Sophies Tavern:



Restaurant Stefanich:



Knights of Columbus # 4400

returned for their fish fry again last Friday, enjoyed it again.



Croatian Cultural Club:

popped in for some beers ended up walking out with a $5 pork chop dinner as well.



Hot Pan



noodles with braised pork rib:



you can probably find me at one of these spots on a Friday night.

jimswside wrote:
Restaurant Stefanich:

Restaurant Stefanich has become a regular spot a couple times a week lately. No fried chicken hold over from its previous owners as hoped for, but solid Mexican food. One of a handfull of already visited and some yet to be discovered Mexican spots on this side of Joliets.

Arrachera is top notch as are their enchiladas. Ive also done their pork chops & eggs for dinner. Solid, nothing fancy here, but a solid meal.

Best thing is Thursday is free dinner at the bar. Last week was some bomb chicken enchiladas verde(made to order) with rice and beans.

Tonight(8/22) is carnitas con nopal.

Cant beat the food and the friendly latina bartenders here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefanic ... 5749547288

Friday Fish fry season for the Croatian Club should be getting going this month, cant wait for that and return trips to the K of C and VFW. Also looking to report on 3 or 4 mariscos places I have seen within a couple blocks radius just north of downtown.


Been going to Stefanich 2 times a week lately. Thursday night for free supper after 5 p.m., and also stopping in on Fridays as it is a fun and cheap dinner and drink spot. Always treated like a king here, starting with a friendly hello and a handshake from the girls at the bar on every visit.



Free dinner from this past Thursday some chicken flautas:



these free dinners are not from a buffet table, Prepared to order, and always good. Looking forward to what they prepare this fall.

Went with a $5.99 plate this past Friday, almost went asada and eggs, but did 2 enchiladas and a tostada:



Food is always solid, and scratches a comfort food itch for me.

This Thursday's(10/3/2013) free dinner - caldo de camaron

Taqueria opened up recently and I had heard they were doing cemitas from a friend. Rolled in last night and had a breaded steak cemita, a pretty good version,cheese was spot on, also chipotle pepper, no papalo on this visit, but my friend said his cemita had it on a previous visit. I'm not sure the bread is as good as the Cemitas place in Aurora or the spot in Chicago. Gotta have a few more.

The star of the vist was a beautiful trompo of al pastor topped with a slab of pineapple. This was some fantastic al pastor, cut from the trompo and crisped on the flat top, nice avocado hot sauce on the table. easily the best al pastor I have had in Joliet(psst that's saying something, Joliet is a solid al pastor town).

Camera battery was dead, sorry no pics this visit.

Looked to be a family running the spot, I see myself being a regular

Taqueria El Zarape
700 W. Jefferson
Joliet, Il.

815-955-2413

I was doing a little Route 66 early in October so I thought I'd add a couple of Joliet area places that are worth checking out. I heard about both of these places when I saw them on Chicago's Best. On my way downstate, we stopped at Home Cut Donuts and picked up a few including their famous Angel Cream Eclairs. Everything was fresh and very tasty. They are open 24 hours too and have been around since 1966.

On our way back we hit Home Cut one more time and then had pizza at Luigi's in Plainfield that I reviewed here.

Home Cut Donuts
815 W Jefferson St
Joliet IL
815-727-3511

Luigi's Pizza
16200 S Lincoln Hwy
Plainfield IL
815-577-7773

Ram4 wrote:I was doing a little Route 66 early in October so I thought I'd add a couple of Joliet area places that are worth checking out. I heard about both of these places when I saw them on Chicago's Best. On my way downstate, we stopped at Home Cut Donuts and picked up a few including their famous Angel Cream Eclairs. Everything was fresh and very tasty. They are open 24 hours too and have been around since 1966.

Home Cut Donuts
815 W Jefferson St
Joliet IL
815-727-3511

Home Cut Donuts are definitely worth a stop. I stumbled upon them a few years back. The name of the place made it an automatic stop.

jimswside wrote:Taqueria opened up recently and I had heard they were doing cemitas from a friend. Rolled in last night and had a breaded steak cemita, a pretty good version,cheese was spot on, also chipotle pepper, no papalo on this visit, but my friend said his cemita had it on a previous visit. I'm not sure the bread is as good as the Cemitas place in Aurora or the spot in Chicago. Gotta have a few more.

The star of the vist was a beautiful trompo of al pastor topped with a slab of pineapple. This was some fantastic al pastor, cut from the trompo and crisped on the flat top, nice avocado hot sauce on the table. easily the best al pastor I have had in Joliet(psst that's saying something, Joliet is a solid al pastor town).

Camera battery was dead, sorry no pics this visit.

Looked to be a family running the spot, I see myself being a regular

Taqueria El Zarape
700 W. Jefferson
Joliet, Il.

815-955-2413

made it back this past Friday, thinking its gonna be a habit:



diggin the green salsa(avocado, but hot):



not the best pic of the cone, but its all good. Large cone:



pollo cemitas, and a al pastor taco:





really on their game on my 2 visits, Cemitas here are solid. Bread and sandwich here is easily on par with the Aurora Cemitas spot( viewtopic.php?f=14&t=35471 ) and Chicago, Nice to find another spot making this special(to me) sandwich.

Just a data point if you find yourself out in Joliet and craving some food that can hold its own.

jerryg wrote:Try Al's Steakhouse,just west of Larkin on Jefferson.Good lunch values and a great Sunday menu.A classy Joliet old line steak house with white tableclothes but not pretentious.

This is second-hand (because I haven't been there myself) but Al's was recommended to me just the other day by someone who grew up in Joliet.

last visit much like the first at El Zarape in regards to the al pastor cone. Pineapple up top.: