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Velvet Taco — neighborhood mexican in West Loop. Come for the food, stay for the energy. They're doing something different, and it works. Good for vegetarians, open late. Roshini Rohra: "Beer battered cauliflower - The cauliflower was crispy but could have been more seasoned"
NICK MENNELL
401 reviews
“What impresses me most is the attention to detail—each garnish, each sauce, each element feels deliberately chosen to create the perfect bite”
I have heard this is an awesome place during the day. Would not recommend going at night.
Placed a pick up order in advance and was still kept waiting for half hour.
so wet i couldn’t eat mine. there were no plates so it just dripped everywhere on the table.
910 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
“Chicken tikka taco was bomb and so was chicken and waffle taco.”
Chicken tikka taco was bomb and so was chicken and waffle taco. Although, it’s a bit sweet for my taste. The chicken was crisp and full of flavour. Food is always great at Velvet taco, my interaction with the staff was blunt, they need to communicate better. I had to walk upstairs and down 4 times to get the correct code to use ladies room.
N Surabhi
Nov 2025
“Very good tacos highly recommended if you are in the area Nice clean place close to loop.”
kacper123ful
Nov 2025
“Velvet Taco is a creative fast‑casual taco concept that leans heavily into global flavor fusions...”
Velvet Taco is a creative fast‑casual taco concept that leans heavily into global flavor fusions rather than strict Tex‑Mex tradition. Their menu spans everything from Korean and Indian inspired tacos to Mediterranean and Caribbean takes — which gives them a bit of an edge for vegetarians who want more than just “beans and cheese” tacos. I tried all 3 veggie options ~~ Fried Paneer Taco, Beer Battered Cauliflower Taco, Nashville Hot Tofu taco and was impressed with taste and flavour. Must try , if you are flexible you can definitely leave happily full and satisfied with a different interesting vegetarian version of tacos that go beyond the typical “bean & cheese” approach.
Dhanuka Sojitra
Sep 2025
“I will definitely be back.”
I will definitely be back. I got the paneer, cauliflower, and shrimp tacos. All of them were delicious with very unique flavors that worked well together. The service was also great!
Liberty Liefeld
Aug 2025
“Veg. Options of Tacos were delicious. What really takes the meal to the next level is pairing them...”
Veg. Options of Tacos were delicious. What really takes the meal to the next level is pairing them with the queso.
Trush P.
Aug 2025
“The service and food at Velvet Tacos is always spot on.”
The service and food at Velvet Tacos is always spot on. The combo meal is a good value. They also have offers every now and again which makes ordering there an even better value. Their tacos are stuffed so even one taco makes for a substantial snack or a small meal for me. Their app is convenient and easy to use. Pickup orders are packaged well. The photo was a 2 taco combo with a free taco that I plated at home. It was so good and so much food that I had leftovers. 😊
Mary Lee
Jun 2025
“Tried all 3 vegetarian options and it was the best meal i had in Chicago.”
Tried all 3 vegetarian options and it was the best meal i had in Chicago. My favourite has to be the Fried Paneer and the Beer Battered Cauliflower. Both these tacos were phenomenal. You can’t ask more from a vegetarian taco. Highly recommend this place
Naman Jain
Jun 2025
“Velvet Taco in Chicago has completely redefined what I expect from a taco joint.”
Velvet Taco in Chicago has completely redefined what I expect from a taco joint. This isn't your typical taqueria—it's an experience that has me planning my flight connections through O'Hare just to get my fix. I've literally driven straight from the airport during a brief layover just to indulge in these mouthwatering creations. That's right—I risked missing my connecting flight for these tacos, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Every single taco I've tried has been nothing short of extraordinary. The flavor combinations are both innovative and perfectly balanced. Their spicy tikka chicken taco brings together Indian and Mexican flavors in a way that shouldn't work but absolutely sings. The slow-roasted angus brisket taco with its perfect smokiness and tender texture is practically life-changing. And don't get me started on their fish tacos—crispy, fresh, and topped with just the right amount of creamy sauce. The corn tortillas taste freshly made, and the ingredients are clearly sourced with care. What impresses me most is the attention to detail—each garnish, each sauce, each element feels deliberately chosen to create the perfect bite. Nothing is an afterthought here. The atmosphere matches the quality of the food—vibrant, energetic, and contemporary without feeling pretentious. The staff are genuinely passionate about what they're serving and happy to make recommendations if you're overwhelmed by choices (which you will be). Chicago has no shortage of incredible food options, but Velvet Taco stands in a category of its own. It's become my non-negotiable Chicago stop, even if I'm just passing through. If you have to choose just one taco spot in the Windy City, make it Velvet Taco. Just make sure you have enough time before your next flight—because you'll want to try everything on the menu. A culinary highlight that's worth traveling across the country for!
NICK MENNELL
Apr 2025
“I tired this place for the first time on Sun 2/23/25 around 6:15pm.”
I tired this place for the first time on Sun 2/23/25 around 6:15pm. I was very pleased with the customer service, food, speed of service, and cleanliness of the restaurant and bathrooms. I will surely return. Since it was my first time, I tried several tacos. Each was flavor packed and was like an entrée on its own. I love the concept and execution of this place. Here’s a breakdown with my opinion of the tacos. I will also add, the blue corn chips and guacamole were very good. Cuban Pig: 5/5 This taco was amazing. It was a little spicy, but the spice was worth it. This taco has pickles on it. I never thought it would work, but it definitely did. This is a must try taco and was my favorite. Rotisserie Chicken: 4/5 The roasted corn pico, and charred tomato poblano salsa were great additions to the taco. However, they slightly overpowered the chicken. I would’ve liked the flavor of the chicken to push through a bit more. However, this was still a great taco. Mexi-Cali Shrimp: 4/5 This was a good taco with perfect toppings. The shrimp could’ve used a bit more seasoning. However, it was still good, and all the toppings helped to elevate the flavor of the overall taco. Grilled Salmon: 3/5 Napa slaw, citrus lime crema, pickled fresnos, roasted corn pico, avocado crema, micro cilantro. All great toppings, but again, the salmon needed a boost in seasoning. This was not one of my favorites. Chimichurri Steak: 3/5 The chimichurri was great. However, the steak was tough and not seasoned well. Quesa Birria: 1/5 This is one I would not try again. Overall, it was too salty, there was not enough meat, and there was no flavor beyond salt. This taco might need to be taken off the menu.
David Tucker
Feb 2025
“The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and very chill vibes.”
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and very chill vibes. We were passing by and saw this place. I checked it out on google saw it had good reviews so we decided to try it. We ordered 1. Nashville hot tofu - Best of the lot, we ordered it again. 2. Fried paneer - Paneer was decently soft 3. Beer battered cauliflower - The cauliflower was crispy but could have been more seasoned. We were 6 of us and had 2 tacos each enough to satisfy our hunger at that moment.
Roshini Rohra
Aug 2024
“It was my first time at this location, but the service and food were great, as usual.”
It was my first time at this location, but the service and food were great, as usual. I had the buffalo chicken taco and the nachos both of which I enjoyed. I was in the area visiting surrounding venues and got hungry, so this was not a miss.
L Lockett
Aug 2024
“So this has been on my want to go list for some time, and I finally made it, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long.”
So this has been on my want to go list for some time, and I finally made it, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. I tried a few different options, and while only one wasn't my cup of tea, the other choices I made overshadowed the one I didn't like. And there's still so many more on the menu that I can't wait to experience. The spicy Tikka chicken is definitely a nice combination of what you might not expect from biting into a taco. The Korean fried rice was so confusingly good because of its presentation, and because I was just amazed at how good it was. The grilled steak was my favorite of the bunch, as it literally felt like it melted in my mouth while eating. The one that I just didn't really like was the Cuban pig, it just wasn't it for me, but I would still say give it a try if the toppings intrigue you.
Maurice Davis Jr.
Jan 2024
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