Tacos Tequilas, Chicago

Though the chefs at Tacos Tequilas can cook up familiar Mexican favorites such as skirt steak tacos and stuffed poblano peppers, they specialize in the more unique aspects of Mexican cuisine. For starters, they craft spicy cactus salads tossed with pico de gallo and queso fresco, and set Mexican panela cheese aflame with a splash of tequila and lime juice. When it comes to main courses, chefs dig even deeper into their reserve of unique ingredients. They fill shallow, fried corn cups with sauteed wild mushrooms in guajillo sauce to create their signature cazuelitas, and stuff crispy tortas with marinated roast pork and a smear of avocado and mayo. And, like an entrepreneur with a short-term memory, the dessert chefs don't stick to just one speciality—instead, they create a different traditional dessert for guests to enjoy every day.