At This Illinois Taco Truck, Italian Beef Tacos Are So Unique They’ve Become A Local Legend
On Chicago’s West Side, in the heart of Humboldt Park, a humble food truck turned cantina has captured the city’s imagination.
Aztec Dave’s started out serving tacos curbside, and today it’s known as one of the Windy City’s most creative street-food success stories. Their signature twist?
A fusion of two Chicago icons—Italian beef and Mexican tacos—that somehow works so perfectly, locals will line up in snow, rain, or summer heat just to get a taste.
Visitors who stumble upon the spot at 1143 N California Ave quickly learn what Bostonians already whisper: this is one food stop worth the detour.
Where Chicago Classics Meet Mexican Street Food
I stumbled upon Aztec Dave’s three winters ago during a snowstorm when nothing else was open. The scent of simmering beef and warm spices pulled me through the blizzard like a cartoon character floating toward pie on a windowsill.
The genius behind these legendary tacos lies in the perfect marriage of thinly sliced, juicy Italian beef—traditionally reserved for sandwiches—nestled in hand-pressed corn tortillas. The beef gets marinated for 24 hours in a secret blend of spices before being slow-roasted until it practically melts.
What really seals the deal is how they top it: giardiniera (that spicy Italian pickled vegetable mix Chicagoans obsess over) alongside traditional Mexican toppings like cilantro and onion. It shouldn’t work, but holy moly, it absolutely does!
From Maxwell Street To The Food Truck Scene
The backstory of these legendary tacos reads like a classic American dream tale. Owner Dave Gonzalez grew up helping at his father’s taqueria near Maxwell Street Market, where Italian beef vendors operated just a few stalls down.
“My dad thought I was crazy when I first suggested combining the two,” Dave told me while assembling my order one rainy Tuesday. As a teenager, he’d sneak Italian beef from neighboring stands and wrap it in his family’s homemade tortillas as a quick lunch.
What started as Dave’s personal snack hack became the foundation for a culinary empire when he launched his food truck in 2014. The initial experiment—offered as a “secret menu” item—generated such buzz that it quickly became his signature dish and the truck’s main attraction.
Why Locals Call It A Legend
Chicagoans aren’t exactly known for mincing words. When they crown something a “legend,” you better believe it’s earned that title. Last summer, I witnessed a tourist from Texas nearly weep after taking his first bite—no exaggeration!
The legend status comes partly from scarcity—Aztec Dave’s only makes a limited number of these bad boys each day. The truck’s Instagram account has become the digital equivalent of a treasure map, with locals tracking its movements across neighborhoods like food detectives.
Celebrity endorsements have further cemented its legendary reputation. When filming in Chicago, Michael B. Jordan reportedly ordered these tacos three days straight, while local chef Rick Bayless called them “the perfect expression of Chicago’s multicultural soul on a plate.” Some devoted fans even showcase their loyalty with Aztec Dave’s tattoos!
Big Flavor, Small Truck
The magic happens in a space smaller than most walk-in closets. I’ve peeked inside Aztec Dave’s kitchen—a marvel of efficiency where every inch serves multiple purposes. Three people move in a choreographed dance, never bumping elbows despite the tight quarters.
The beef simmers in special custom-built warmers that Dave’s cousin (an engineer) designed specifically for the truck. Their tortilla press—a family heirloom brought from Mexico in the 1970s—occupies the place of honor near the service window. Each handmade tortilla receives a quick char on a blazing hot plancha before being filled.
Despite countless offers to expand into brick-and-mortar locations, Dave remains committed to the truck. “The limitations of this space force us to focus on doing just a few things perfectly rather than many things okay,” he explained while expertly wrapping my taco in foil with a flick of his wrist.
More Than Just Italian Beef Tacos
While the Italian beef taco deserves its crown jewel status, the supporting cast on Aztec Dave’s menu shouldn’t be overlooked. My personal second favorite has to be their “Chicago Dog Taco”—yes, you read that right!
They’ve somehow managed to transform another iconic Chicago street food into taco form, complete with pickle spears, sport peppers, and that signature neon green relish. The Polish sausage taco with sauerkraut and stone-ground mustard offers another brilliant Chicago-Mexican mashup that’ll blow your mind.
For the truly adventurous, Thursday specials often feature experimental creations. Last month’s deep-dish pizza taco nearly broke the internet locally, with tomato sauce-braised beef, mozzarella, and basil on a parmesan-crusted tortilla. Come early though—these limited specials typically sell out within two hours!