Quesabirria Tacos In Joliet? Head To Super Mercado: Food Review

JOLIET, IL — Last September, I reviewed the steak tacos at the Super Mercado Joliet at the corner of Collins and Cass Streets. For years, the steak tacos were the staple item on the menu, but not anymore. Super Mercado has been swept up by the Quesabirria Taco craze. It began on the West Coast in California and now it's gaining momentum here in the Midwest.

The folks who run Super Mercado Joliet have perfected their recipe. On Friday, I visited Super Mercado to try out the new food selection. These tacos are fabulous. They are unlike any other taco I have had before. What makes the Quesabirria special? It's the dipping juice. The juice is more of a broth, and it has a smoky taste and flavor to it.

I've never been in the habit of dipping my tacos into anything, but after a couple of dips I got the hang of it. And it worked out great.

Alex Sanchez, the son of the owner, had contacted me in recent days, asking me to make a return visit to Super Mercado Joliet to try his Quesabirria tacos. Given how popular these tacos are becoming across the nation, I figured what the heck, let's given them a try.

I'm glad I did.

Sanchez told me that the feedback from his customers at Super Mercado Joliet has been hot.

"People love them," he told me Friday. "It definitely has switched our focus which was always steak."

Sanchez went on to tell me: "They are hot not only because of the blackened chili de arbol salsa we use specially for these tacos but also from the rich Consommé (The Juice). The Consommé is used to dip your tacos into before taking a bite or simply as sipping broth.

"There are many variations of the Quesabirria as you will find online, but ours is made using a combination of fresh ingredients, a unique blend of chilies and spices, fire-roasted Magay stems which are actually members of the Agave family that's used in Tequila making."

All of these flavors, Sanchez explained, are simmered at the Joliet Super Mercado for 12 hours and then served with handmade tortillas loaded with Wisconsin Munster cheese, red onion, cilantro, limes and a cup of "Juice."

The juice is what makes these tacos shine. They are truly tasty and worth making a visit to the taco stand in the back parking lot for Super Mercado Joliet.

For $7, you get two Quesabirria tacos and a soda, which is a pretty good value.

You won't regret it.

The Supermercado Joliet taco stand at 379 East Cass St. is open daily from around 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Customers can also call in their orders at 815-723-6078.

One More Thing: Super Mercado Joliet has just started an online ordering system on its website for bringing in more customers. To check out the online ordering, go here.