One of your first sights upon entering Carnitas Don Lucho is the counter. Yes, there’s an unseen kitchen in this space, but at the counter where you place your order, you will marvel at the glistening pork carnitas, the butt cooking right there, hunks of which are lopped off and sold by the pound. The tender confit-like meat is akin to manna folded inside large, fresh corn tortillas. Drizzle fresh lime and Lucho’s smoky pasilla chile salsa (one of up to six sauces) over the meat. The taco doesn’t need much more to enhance the flavor.
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Contrary to its name, Vagabond’s warm and modern atmosphere will encourage you to stay and mingle longer than expected. A 1970’s Airstream sits smack dab in the middle of the restaurant – now transformed into a bar – lending the restaurant a sepia-toned sheen of nostalgia. American and Mexican street food mingle with memory-lane music at this Downtown eatery.
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Open For Lunch, Outdoor Dining,
The bright restaurant interior matches the colorful Latin touches on the menu. Highlights include Argentinian beef, Mexican chicken mole poblano and Spanish paella. Read more…
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Morning to night, Bay View’s Buena Vista churns out tasty Mexican dishes to lines of loyalists. Nearly every day – winter and summer – the Buena Vista truck parks at Chase and Oklahoma Avenues, where it dishes out tacos, burritos, tortas and quesadillas. It’s part of a family business that includes Ruben Sanchez, his father and siblings. Read more…
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The tacos served here are in the style of L.A. taco trucks; the margaritas are made with free-squeezed lime juice. You build your margarita by choosing the tequila – there’s no shortage of options.
Other Locations: BelAir Cantina Downer, BelAir Cantina Tosa
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Chilango Express started in a space adjacent to a gas station. It’s since moved to a much larger location. Chilango’s creations start with homemade tortillas, which make all the difference. The freshness of that base ingredient (which yields a fluffy, light tortilla) combined with big meaty chunks of pastor is taco ecstasy. Come early on weekends for the lamb, a dynamite taco filling. Mentioned in:
The tacos served here are in the style of L.A. taco trucks; the margaritas are made with free-squeezed lime juice. You build your margarita by choosing the tequila – there’s no shortage of options.
Other Locations: BelAir Water Street, BelAir Cantina Tosa
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Cozy and friendly, even if it’s knee-deep with hungry and thirsty and patrons. Wash down your wet burrito or beef tacos (with meat from the family cattle farm) with a potent margarita. Extra props go to the Corazón burger. Read more…
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Open for Breakfast, Open For Lunch, Sunday Brunch,
Imagine a place where you can get a duck BLT sausage, a cheddarwurst, chili dog and scads of others ?? all links, no patties. Imagine no more. That is the modus operandi of this super-delish counter-service sausage emporium, which is also serious about draft cocktails, whiskey and bourbon.
Seasonal cuisine incorporating local foods is the mantra of this beautifully restored occupant of Walker’s Point’s “Restaurant Row.” The steamed pork buns are a must. Also offers hands-on cooking classes.
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El Cabrito – whose name translates to “little goat” – is marinated and slow-roasted (leg, sometimes), which lends a succulent texture and flavor similar to lamb. Keen palates will detect cinnamon, cumin, even lemon peel. Like other meats, it needs only cilantro and onion on top, but don’t be shy with the chunky red salsa! And corn tortillas are best.
Cafe El Sol offers an authentically delicious Puerto Rican and Mexican cuisine. Stop by on a Friday evening for a dinner buffet with broiled and fried fish as well as live Latin entertainment starting at 6:30 p.m.
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This sibling to Movida and Hotel Madrid puts a modern spin on the 1950s diner, with some classics and untraditional spins. Examples include the bananarama French toast, “naughty” angel burger, chicken pot pie and corned beef hash. Drinks range from boozy milkshakes to a spiked cereal cocktail. Breakfast is served all day.
I sense a trend. While Sweet Diner has brought a very un-dinery look and vibe to the Third Ward, Don’s Diner & Cocktails is offering up its “classic diner you crave” theme ‒ but without a more modern aesthetic ‒ in Walker’s Point. Read more…
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This Bay View institution still has a Schlitz brewery globe hanging over the bar – a piece of historic Milwaukee in an otherwise old-world, Eastern Europe bubble. The effect of dining in the home of an old relative (who happens to be a great cook) keeps people coming back, for stars of the show like chicken paprikash, cevapcici (sausage) and the incomparable burek.
The patrons seated around the bar finish each other’s thoughts, let alone sentences. This is that kind of place. The pizza has a solid rim of breadiness, and it’s strong and on the thicker side of thin. The toppings are what make it. More is more. If you can see crust under big chunks of sausage and vegetables, you’re not at this Bay View institution.
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Order badly? It’s not likely here, not with huevos rancheros, avocado smash-up and enchiladas verdes as options.
The call came last spring. Francisco “Frank” Sanchez, whose family ran the old Taqueria Azteca on Oklahoma and Chase, was back – returning to the industry after several years out of the dining limelight. Only not at a straight-up Mexican place as he was known for before. Read more…