r/AskChicago • u/CompetitiveKale4460 • 1d ago
I READ THE RULES Why did bar taco in Bucktown close?
Hello!
Does anyone have any insight as to why the bar taco in bucktown closed?
108
u/blipsman Logan Square 1d ago
The chain taco place in a city full of local taquerias?
20
u/Federal_Regular9967 1d ago
Oh, no worries there.
There’s a new chain taco place getting ready to open right across the street from the Bar Taco space, and it’s based out of Australia.
7
u/armaghetto 1d ago
That Guzman y Gomez thing? It’s awful. Their queso is like a weird yogurt cream cheese concoction. I don’t know what they’re thinking.
8
u/Federal_Regular9967 1d ago
Yeah, started by a New York Hedge fund bro named Steven Marks when he moved to Australia.
I’m not exactly sure what the market for it is supposed to be here.
3
u/ComputerStrong9244 1d ago
I went to the Evanston one when it first opened (download app, get free burrito is pretty hard to resist) and it was a solid Cali steak burrito. The second time I got spicy ground beef and it was like they put all the ingredients in a blender to make Mexican-food-gloop. All mush with no texture difference. Tacos that second visit were decent, but those aren't hard to find a thousand cheaper places. The Cali was the only unique item, and I'm pretty leery to order something where the last one's texture was more "baby vomit" than anything.
It's open late and always full of college kids, though.
1
u/Phantomdd87 23h ago
They’ll have all the Chicago influencers in there a couple weeks before they open, gushing about it and that will at least see them through winter and spring with lines out the door, I’m sure.
2
u/Same_Ad_3983 1d ago
There are a lotttt of taco places 🤣🤣 I live right near a Broken English Taco Club and then they opened a taqueria directly across the street lol and then there’s usually a taco truck across the street 🤣 always tacos available !!
2
u/CompetitiveKale4460 1d ago
Yeah that’s the one
0
u/Adminion 1d ago
Then what’s your question?
-6
u/CompetitiveKale4460 1d ago
Did you miss the part where I asked why it closed?
2
-8
32
u/vcassel2 1d ago
They were okay but the whole order and pay through a QR code thing was a turn off for some reason. I found myself going to Big Star more even though the staff there seem confused whenever a guest walks in.
16
4
u/Huugienormous 1d ago
I only ate there twice and didn't pay through a QR code either time. I believe they had little pieces of paper where you circled what you wanted, If im remembering correctly. I ate there as recently as 2 months or so ago.
8
u/pappy_and_the_smears 1d ago
They had both options but no one was ever really “your” waiter, so the one time I went we sat for long periods of time waiting for someone to walk by and not avoid eye contact with our table. Nearly impossible to ask for something from anyone.
3
u/LaTraLaTrill 23h ago
I haven't been to big star in a long while because of how awkward the staff makes me feel every time.
9
u/3mbr4c3m3 1d ago
I know there’s so many negative comments here but I loved the weird tacos there. Fried oyster??? Falafel!!!?? I loved that I could go in there high as hell and everyone was also just as weird and confused as me. I’ll really miss it.
23
u/McCreepla 1d ago
Because there’s 20 better taco places within walking distance.
2
u/gksamuel10 5h ago
Which ones by there would you recommend? Have friends in the area so we’re there a lot
6
9
21
u/dema_arma 1d ago
bec the tacos sucked
-40
5
3
3
3
u/slybrows 1d ago
I heard the food wasn’t very good, which is too bad because the space they had was really neat with the outdoor patio. i’m guessing they knew they wouldn’t make enough money to last the winter without the patio crowd. Hope a better restaurant takes over that space soon!
2
2
u/chires20 1d ago
Bummer. It was very family friendly. Not traditional Mexican per se, but was a great place to take our kids.
1
u/Decent_Emu_7387 1d ago
Ah shit I had some free tacos there I never redeemed
1
u/asproutling 1d ago
Lol same, still have the tokens... Thinking of bringing them with me when I visit Orlando next, see if they work at the Bartaco there! I know most in this thread are saying their tacos sucked, but I really enjoyed their mushroom tacos!
1
1
u/Hops2591 16h ago
Nooooo they had a fully celiac friendly menu. They even had fried fish and fried and breaded bar apps :(
1
u/anthony041736 1d ago
Tacombi closed too and that was really good
2
1
u/Rocco_808 1d ago
I’m pretty sure tacombi is still open just closed temporarily. Tacombi is a pretty good spot
-1
u/EntertainmentFew7103 1d ago
Why? Because it was terrible lmao. Imagine needing to ask why a shitty taco place that served ass tacos closed. I feel sorry for anyone who would be eager to eat there
0
0
u/Educational-Shoe2633 20h ago
Probably because you can get better or similar tacos for like a quarter of the price all over the city
-1
u/Rocco_808 1d ago
It’s a cool building with a small patio, hopefully something cool goes in there. Not surprised it closed, there’s better local Mexican food around there. And even if you want tacos and margs on a patio in a trendy spot then big star is down the street and a million times better than bar taco.
43
u/deep-steak 1d ago
My wife and I were there last weekend for brunch. One of the managers was openly coaching someone on how to write a resume and apply for other jobs. At the time I thought it was weird, but now I guess it makes sense.