Taqueria El Perez Serves Up Authentic Mexican Cuisine With Flair

OAK LAWN, IL — Sergio Perez was happily working as a banquet manager for a local hotel when the pandemic delivered a knockout punch to the hospitality industry. Perez, a cook by training, was trying to figure out his next move when his stepson, Manuel Alnanza, suggested they open a taquería.

“My intention was to never open a taco place,” Perez said. “After they closed my hotel in March, I was doing nothing.”

Since October, Taquería El Perez, 10317 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, has been dishing out authentic Mexican cuisine. If your taste for Mexican food runs more along the lines of Taco Bell, this place may not be for you. Taquería El Perez is the real deal. Many of the dishes come from Perez’s home state of Michoacán in western Mexico, which is known for its avocado production.

Perez flairs up his menus with pastor (pork seasoned) and birria (a sweet beef stew from his wife’s home state of Jalisco) tacos, burritos, sopes and tortas. Guests can also order more traditional fare including grilled steak, chicken and chorizo for their tacos and burritos. His menu also includes vegetarian, or at least non-meat items, such as taco salads and cheese quesadillas. Everything is made-from-scratch authentic for the serious Mexican cuisine fan.

Most dinners range in price from $9 to $12, with higher priced steak and chicken fajitas running $14 and $18. Items including tacos, burritos, sopes and tortas can be ordered individually ranging from $2.50 to $8.

Perez has been cooking since he was eight years old. “I came from a small town in Mexico,” he said. “I cooked to survive.”

He came to the United States with his family when he was 14. He worked his way up in hotel kitchens to chef. During his stint as a banquet manager, Perez missed cooking. When Alnanza suggested opening a restaurant, Perez once again turned to cooking to survive in the pandemic.

“I used to like to travel all the time,” he said. “Restaurants are hard work, 24/7, but then I thought ‘let’s give it a try.’”

Perez and Alnanza are working on a breakfast menu, and eventually expanding the lunch and dinner menu by adding seafood items. Earlier this month, Taquería El Perez celebrated its grand opening with a mariachi band and ribbon cutting by the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce.

“We’ve gotten a lot of support from the community and good feedback from our loyal customers on social media,” Perez said.

Taqueria El Perez, 10317 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Dine in or take out. Call them at 708-634-2224.