Pilsen is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Chicago for many reasons, including the food that you will find at La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria at 1834 S. Blue Island Ave.

Atole, a Mexican hot chocolate made with cornmeal, is really thick and has a distinct taste.

Atole, a Mexican hot chocolate made with cornmeal, is really thick and has a distinct taste.

food12I must have looked completely clueless when I walked into La Casa because within moments of me staring at a menu completely in Spanish (PS, I do not know any Spanish), a friendly woman behind the counter smiled and told me exactly what I should get. Usually, I like picking my meal out myself, but she was so sure that I would love the combination of cheese, chicken and red tamales she would offer me, I could not say no.

The cheese tamale tasted just like a chile relleno, comprising a tender smoky Poblano chili and plenty of (what tasted like) Monterey Jack cheese. Like in the video, however, the red tamale was my favourite, combining spicy pork, garlic and cumin in the lightest cornmeal tamale I have ever tasted.

Cheese tamale

Cheese tamale

The inside of the red tamale

The inside of the red tamale

Eat up!

inside1

The counter inside La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria

Dev xx