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Big Star

Address
1531 N Damen Ave Chicago IL 60622
Phone
(773) 235-4039
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Average Rating
4
Total Reviews
(67)
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What the community has to say about Big Star

Information about this business (2)

Big Star is a bourbon and beer-focused, taco-slinging, late-night honky-tonk in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborh...ood. Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Cary Taylor’s menu, inspired by authentic Mexican street food, is complemented by an extensive house-selected single barrel bourbon program. Housed in a defunct 1940's gas station, the taqueria’s soundtrack of classic...

The draw to this Mexican restaurant seems to be the low-key design of its dining room. The owners have even put in a window similar to those found at drive-thru restaurants, if you happen to be out and want to eat on your way to the next bar. Wait till the warm weather rolls around, and you can sit under the stars in the large beer garden. The cocktail menu is full of whiskey drinks with crafty...

Reviews of this business (90) view all

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Overall review sentiment

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100%

Top 3 sentiment words

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food
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whiskey
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Overall review sentiment

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Rating distribution

5 stars
30
4 stars
25
3 stars
5
2 stars
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1 star
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No rating
28
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YellowBot member reviews (1)

Reviewed Business
Big Star
Reviewer Name
kaylapat061974
Review Date
February 05, 2018
Average Rating
4

Love this place

They have the best tacos you can ever have. But on top of that, the best thing about this place is its atmosphere. My friend and I had a couple of drinks here and we absolutely adored the place just as much as the drinks and food. Recommend coming here if you haven’t

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Editorial reviews from the web (5)

Big Star Restaurant Review

Arrive early at this first-come, first-served Wicker Park hub, where you’re likely to experience a wait-time upwards of an hour, especially during the summer months. Is it worth it? That all depends on what you order. Chef Paul Kahan’s (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican) authentic take on taco classics are certainly wait-worthy. Particularly of note are the pineapple-topped al pastor, the taco de...

"Hipsters" pile into Paul Kahan's "affordable" Wicker Park Mexican for "flavorful" tacos "like you've never tasted" plus "delicious", "strong" margaritas, "solid" beers and a "top-notch bourbon selection"; it's cash-only and the "modern garage-type" space can seem "acoustically tragic", but it's still "always packed", especially on the happening patio ("if you can grab a spot, never leave");...

Hottest (and sometimes hardest to get into) bar of 2009 from the guys who brought you Blackbird, Avec and The Violet Hour. Fire up with lesser-known American whiskeys and small-batch tequilas as you kick back in wooden booths and admire the concrete flooring and exposed light bults. But seriously, wait for a table to open up on the 90-seat front patio, order a round of Micheladas and watch...

This Wicker Park crowd-pleaser follows all the rules of a down-home honky-tonk (albeit a fake one). It doesn't take reservations, the decor approximates a dive diner, the music is loud, and it's usually crammed with boys in fedora hats throwing back shots of whiskey and tequila. While you can eat a meal here for under $10, at heart, Big Star is a seriously upscale taqueria that does not mess...

Citysearch Editorial Review

Celeb chef Paul Kahan is the big cooking guns behind this honky-tonk taqueria housed in one of the most coveted spaces in Wicker Park, the one-time auto shop that previously housed Pontiac Cafe....

Other reviews from the web (89) view all

Average Rating
100

A multiplicity of tacos with a twist, accompanied by a stockpile of whiskey on the cheap. Sit outside on warm afternoons, or bask in the bar's neon glow on cold nights.

Average Rating
60

This place was packed when we arrived and as we didn't have much time to wait for a table, we darted straight for the bar. Menus were all around so it was easy to browse before deciding on what we...

Average Rating
40

Flip through the book and check out the drink menu section of Reserves... there's a few items that are over $100 and guess what... Big Star is CASH ONLY. I wanna see that guy who orders a round of...

Average Rating
100

I think all of Wicker Park was at Big Star last Saturday. The patio area takes up almost an entire street corner! The wait for a table inside looked long, so we decided to order at the window...

Average Rating
40

I realize the only other time I've given this place raving reviews it's been after a long night of drinking.The food here is very basic and lacks flavor. Thrown together and really tastes...

Business description (5)

Tacos, Whiskey, Hillbilly Music...sounds like Heaven.

BIG STAR is a whiskey, tequila, cocktail, and beer-focused venue located in the heart of Wicker Park, Chicago. Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Justin Large have crafted an eclectic menu inspired by Mexican street food in a space reminiscent of a California honky tonk. The food, liquor and cocktail programs change continuously to complement the seasons, and always features six...

Big Star offers a varied menu of dishes inspired by Mexican street food. They have an extensive selection of house-selected single barrel bourbons & whiskeys, and always have six featured beers on tap.

Decent. Like the decor/wooden booths and outside patio area. Tacos are a couple bucks each, come fast and are decent for a quick eat, during regular eating hours or late-night.

jms, 07/09/2011

Wicker Park's slice of hipster taqueria gone Wild West. This seemingly awkward combination delivers rare whiskeys and delicious tacos. Specials include five dollar martini Wednesdays and a daily variety of three dollar whiskey shots. As for late-night hunger, Big Star serves tacos and tostadas from the bar and outdoor pickup window, most-loved for the ride home.©10Best.com

Tips about this business (3)

The Extras

On the run? Just jog on up to the pickup window and grab a few tacos to go.

Parking

It might seem incongruous based on the unpretentious vibe of the place, but given the scarcity of street spots--and saturation of businesses--near the North/Damen/Milwaukee intersection, your best bet might just be valet.

What to Drink

This might be the hardest decision you have to make all night: a creative cocktail in the spirit of sibling (and neighbor) The Violet Hour, a lesser-known whiskey brand on the rocks or an ultra-cheap beer? (We vote whiskey.) The good news is you won't pay an arm or a leg for any of them.

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