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Home / Businesses / Big Star

Big Star

FoodWicker Park · Mexican/Tacos Community-sourced, unverified
📍 1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Big Star doesn't look like much from the street — a converted 1940s gas station on Damen Ave, picnic tables out front, a line that runs past the patio most warm nights.

$$
The whiskey list and the off-menu queso are what regulars order alongside the tacos.

That's by design. Paul Kahan (Avec, Publican, the rest of the One Off Hospitality roster) built this one as an homage to the honky-tonk bars around Bakersfield, pairing bourbon and Mexican street food instead of the usual taqueria combo, and it's been Wicker Park's late-night taco stop ever since. The core lineup — pastor, pollo, panza, papas — runs $2.95 a taco any night, but Tuesday is the one people plan around, when carne asada, pescado, and camarones join the board for $2 more and a Tecate drops to $3.

Monday's a $12.95 smash burger, Thursday's $2.95 carnitas, and happy hour (Mon-Thu, 4-6PM) cuts nachos in half and knocks the margarita, Pacifico, and shot of the day down to bar-tab prices. The to-go window is cash-only, which nobody who's been coming here for years thinks twice about. Bring patience for the wait — that's just Big Star.

📸 See more of Big Star

Specials at Big Star

(3)

Big Star

Food
Taco Tuesday · $2.95
Wicker Park5PM–11PMCommunity

Big Star

Food
Monday Smash Burger · $12.95
Wicker Park11:30AM–10PMCommunity

Big Star

Food
Thursday Carnitas Tacos · $2.95
Wicker Park11:30AM–10PMCommunity

Hours

Mon-Thu11:30AM-10PM
Fri11:30AM-11PM
Sat11AM-11PM
Sun11AM-10PM
📅 Reservations not available 🥡 Takeout unconfirmed 📞 (773) 235-4039

Amenities & accessibility

🚶Walk-in only, no reservations
❔Takeout: unverified
❔Wheelchair access: unverified
☀️Outdoor seating available
🐕Dog-friendly
🅿️Street parking
🚇Near the CTA Blue Line

Location

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