Flash Taco, a Wicker Park delight! « Making Chicago Home

After a disappointing night at the very un-Debonair un-Social non-Club, I needed a pick-me-up. In my usual fashion, I sought solace in food and Flash Taco, at 1570 N. Damen Ave. in Wicker Park, was just the place I needed.

Among the darkened nightclub fronts and dim-lit restaurants you will see in Wicker Park, Flash Taco reminds me of a sunny day in Pilsen. The walls are painted in rich jewel-tones, Mexican artwork hangs from the walls and high shelves display Day of the Dead skeletons dressed in fun outfits.

Mini spotlight lights showcase the art pieces and keep the place well-lit and inviting. You will wait for your order to come up after you have placed it, but calm your pre-eating jitters by perching yourself on a stool and tuning into the two plasma boob tubes Flash Taco has, which play non-stop crazy music videos.

Flash Taco’s clientele comprises drunk hipsters who have just made their way out of a club and are looking for cheap, filling food. You will find both at Flash. Oh, and do not trust the Yelpers on this one: They gave Flash Taco a poor rating, but for what it is and where it is located, it is not supposed to be pitted against the other swanky and expensive places you will find in Wicker Park.

While the menu list is extensive and there is a lot of pressure to order quickly, I found that asking the friendly guy behind the counter was my best bet to getting something tasty. He recommended the tacos al pastor, which contained tender spit-grilled pork tossed with a light, spicy sauce and married with cilantro and pungent raw onions. I should have knocked more of the onions off (my own fault since I am not a huge raw onion fan), but even though I did not, it did not hurt the tacos at all.

While the tacos were not as good as the ones I found at La Cebollita in Pilsen, I have to take into account that Flash Taco is more of a fast-food joint and unlike La Cebollita, is not family-owned and operated where the owners use only the finest authentic Mexican ingredients. Even so, Flash is good food for a good price located in a neighbourhood where good fast-food is hard to come by.

Happy eating!