L'Patron: BEST Fish Tacos in Chicago

Before I moved to Chicago, I did not understand how good a taco could be. Of course I had eaten tacos before – my mom made them for dinner sometimes in my youth. But her tacos fell far short of what Chicago has to offer (sorry Mom!). When I moved here, it was like a whole new world opened up to me – and I found the best fish taco in town right in my neighborhood at L'Patron. Lucky me!

The Vibe

L'Patron is not a fancy restaurant. In fact, until recently they had less than 10 seats for customers who wished to dine in. However, they are so popular that they finally expanded and now have tables where you can grab a seat and enjoy your meal. All the food at L'Patron is made to order so if you are planning on taking out, it is best to call ahead. Most orders are ready in about 10 minutes, and if you dine in, they will call out your order when it is ready.

Every single time I visit, the atmosphere always seems to be buzzing with people waiting to order, people stopping in for pick up, and people sitting and eating their meals. Customers come from all walks of life – old, young, couples, families, and police officers, who are huge fans of the joint. The staff is super friendly and fast. If you do stop by during peak hours, the line moves very quickly.

It is important to note that L'Patron is CASH ONLY! They do not have an ATM in the restaurant, but you can always grab cash from the Walgreens next door if you forget.

The Food

When you come to L'Patron, for the love of everything good order at least one fish taco. You will want to order more if you do only order one, but at least you will get to taste what all the hype is about. I don't remember the first time I had the fish taco, I only know I never looked back and always include it in my order.

The fish tacos come in small tortillas, doubled up for maximum strength (no messy breaking of your taco and losing your filling). Inside they place a crispy piece of white fish topped with tomatoes, lettuce, and a spicy mayo sauce. The tacos are a bit on the spicy side but the combo of the crispy fish, soft tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce with the flavor of the sauce will have you feeling sad when you realize you are at your last bite. And believe me, you will be confronted with that last bite before you know it.

In addition to their amazing fish tacos, L'Patron also makes some delicious horchata, a traditional Mexican drink. It is sweet and the perfect way to wash down the spicy fish tacos. I like to order mine with light ice to avoid it getting watered down. I often order a side of rice and beans with my tacos as well which come with refried beans, Spanish rice and are topped with melted cheese. Yummy!

The fish tacos are my personal favorite, but the other tacos on the menu, such as the Al Pastor, are also very popular. They also make excellent burritos and tortas, which I see a lot of people eating.

Are you on your way to L'Patron already? I'll meet you there in 5…