Little Village Neighborhood Guide
Business owners in Little Village, the predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, are reporting business being down 50% since “Operation Midway Blitz.”
The neighborhood is hurting. If you’re looking for ways to support the Latino community, head down with friends and family. Do your grocery shopping, order a catered work lunch or stop in for brunch there.
The two mile stretch of 26th Street from Sacramento to Kostner Avenue includes 500 small businesses. Credit cards and Zelle are widely accepted but cash is still king there.
Here’s some ideas to get you going and don’t forget that some of the best finds come from the street vendors.
La Catedral is great for breakfast/brunch/lunch.
Aguascalientes is my favorite for gorditas, tacos, agua de Jamaica and horchata. People also love Carnitas Uruapan, Los Cómales and La Chaparrita.
Chicago Magazine: Gorditas at Carniceria Aguascalientes
Dulcelandia for the candies. And the best part is roaming the streets with cash in hand buying snacks from all the vendors.
Atlas Obscura: The Many Treats Inside Chicago’s Piñata Emporium Every two weeks, Dulcelandia imports thousands of products from Mexico.
Moreno’s Liquors with one of the biggest tequila/agave collections in the US. People love their speakeasy Osito’s Tap.
And I’ve never been to La Cueva, the oldest Latino drag bar in Chicago, but people love it!!! Bring singles (or more) to tip.
Block Club Chicago: Inside La Cueva, Chicago’s Oldest Latino Drag Bar: ‘It’s A Magical World’ Little Village’s La Cueva welcomed LGBTQ+ Latinos and drag performers looking to sing in Spanish and celebrate their culture. Open for 40+ years, it is possibly the oldest Latino drag club in the country.
Inside Carniceria y Taqueria Aguascalientes (3132 W 26th St, Chicago, IL 60623) on Monday, October 20 during dinner. Restaurant owners say Monday is traditionally their busiest day of the week.
About Little Village
26th Street is the second-highest grossing commercial corridor in Chicago, just behind the Magnificent Mile — a stunning achievement for a community with an average household income of $33,000 (compare to the Gold Coast/Mag Mile which is $177,478).
Home to 500+ family-run businesses, this two-mile strip draws visitors from across the Midwest and is anchored by an iconic designated landmark arch — the first designation for a structure by a Mexican architect.
With 77% of residents of Mexican descent, Little Village is a cornerstone of the city’s culinary and cultural identity — it deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Source: City of Chicago
Chicago has the largest Mexican population in the U.S. outside of border states.