Skip to main content

Best Mexican Restaurants in Pilsen (60608)

7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: January 2026

Our Top Pick
Carnitas Uruapan
Michoacán-style carnitas with proven consistency at massive local volume.

Notable Picks

$ Pilsen
A Pilsen carnitas institution built for takeout: rich, slow-cooked pork with the kind of seasoned-fat depth that holds up whether you go taco-by-taco or by the half-pound. Order like a regular—carnitas plus chicharrones—then use their salsas to tune the heat and acidity.
Must-Try Dishes: Carnitas Especial, Chicharrones, Corundas (cheese tamales)
What makes it special: Michoacán-style carnitas with proven consistency at massive local volume.
$$ Pilsen
A full-service Pilsen Mexican dining room where the menu’s best moves lean regional and sauce-driven—moles, slow-cooked pork, and composed plates that reward a paced order. It’s strongest when you anchor the table with one mole-forward dish and one cochinita-style option, then keep the rest tight.
Must-Try Dishes: Trio de Tacos con Mole, Cochinita Pibil Entree, Puerco Al Rancho (Mole Estilo Guerrero)
What makes it special: A mole-forward Pilsen staple with crowd-proof reliability and depth.
$$ Pilsen
A lively Ashland Ave room that plays like a night-out Mexican spot—big energy, cocktails, and a menu built around tacos plus richer, plated mains. The best orders stay focused: one birria-forward item, one shareable starter, and one taco set to keep the table moving.
Must-Try Dishes: Quesa Birria Tacos, Birria Taco, Queso Fundido
What makes it special: High-energy Mexican dining where birria and shareables drive repeat visits.
$ Pilsen
A Pilsen counter-stop where the calling card is tortillas and tacos built for maximum meat-and-salsa satisfaction. Keep it simple: a couple of tacos, one quesadilla if you want something richer, and elote as the clean, sweet-savory reset.
Must-Try Dishes: Al Pastor Tacos, Elote, Steak Quesadilla
What makes it special: Taco-focused counter service anchored by tortillas and pastor.

Worthy Picks

$ McKinley Park
A Durango-leaning Mexican spot that wins on masa-based comfort—gorditas, sopes, and huaraches that feel made for steady, repeatable meals. It’s best when you order one masa ‘base’ item, then one extra for variety instead of over-stacking the ticket.
Must-Try Dishes: Gorditas, Sopes, Huaraches
What makes it special: Durango-style masa classics made for filling, everyday Mexican comfort.
$$ Bridgeport
A Bridgeport Mexican dining room that works for a full sit-down meal: soups, tacos, and richer plates that go beyond taqueria basics. The best move is to start with something warm, then follow with a taco or birria-forward main to keep the meal balanced.
Must-Try Dishes: Sopa Azteca, Birria Tacos, Queso Fundido
What makes it special: A sit-down Mexican menu with soups, tacos, and shareable starters.
$ Pilsen
A tamale-first operation built for catering and pickup, where the best orders treat tamales like the main event rather than a side. Go two fillings with different textures (one meat, one cheese/veg), then keep the add-ons minimal so the masa and filling stay the focus.
Must-Try Dishes: Beef Tamales, Cheese Tamales, Chicken Tamales
What makes it special: A tamale-specialist built for easy pickup and event-friendly orders.