Birrieria Zaragoza
4852 S Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Archer Heights

Birrieria Zaragoza.

For the unaware, “Birria” is a Mexican goat stew and it also happens to be the only item on the menu at Birrieria Zaragoza, a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked away on the southwest side of Chicago.  Recommended to us by some friends of ours, Rob and I knew that although we had never tried goat before, a place that has a five-star rating on Yelp is not something that should be ignored.  Upon entering, the first thing I noticed about Birrieria Zaragoza was how small and homey it is, which makes sense since its connected to the owner’s house.  Our server even told us that he has slept there several times.  This “all in the family” vibe carries over into Birrieria Zaragoza’s food, which only features the slow-braised birria in two sizes, small or large, either with the bone in or just the pulled meat.  The meat is served with several condiments—onions, cilanto, limes, roasted peppers, and hot sauce—which you can use at your own discretion as you pile it all onto soft, homemade corn tortillas.  The flavorful birria, which is steamed and braised for hours in an ancho-based mole and then served in a tomato-based consomme, is tender and juicy and it combines perfectly with the homemade salsa.  If you’ve never tried goat before or are just up for a new adventure, Birrieria Zaragoza is worth checking out.  Rob and I will definitely be back in the future.

-Anna

Quesadilla before the goat.  Yes, the salsa is as good as it looks.

Rob’s plate of goat, which he wrapped into a tortilla and coated with salsa and all the fixings.