Off-Campus Fight for the Best Bite with Lexie and Morgan: La Taquiza

By Lexie Smith and Morgan Gallagher

ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK TODAY WE HAVE……La Taquiza!!!

When the bell rings and the lunch clock starts ticking, North Shore Country Day students know every minute counts. With only 35 minutes to escape campus, grab a bite and get back before class, the options need to be quick, close and worth the rush.

One standout is La Taquiza, a Mexican spot in downtown Winnetka that checks all the boxes for a stress-free, off-campus lunch. Located less than five minutes away, it’s an easy drive, but what’s inside will truly convince you.

Ordering ahead is the real game-changer here. Call in or use the website and by the time you walk in the door, your food will be ready and waiting. That leaves plenty of time to sit down, eat and still make it back before last period.

La Taquiza keeps it casual but fun. Free water jugs are set up for self-serve and a playlist of 2000s hits playing on the TV sets a nostalgic, upbeat vibe. The seating area is large enough for groups, making it a great spot if you and your friends want to stretch your legs outside of campus.

For a total of $9, Lexie ordered her classic: two juicy asada tacos with extra cheese. These tacos never miss — they have the right amount of tangy flavor and leave a juicy bite. Lexie gets these tacos every time she comes here, and I do not think she’ll ever stop. 

Morgan opted to sample a wider range, ordering a steak tostada ($5.50), a green tamale ($2.95) and a chicken tinga taco ($3.75). Of the three, the tamale stood out as the favorite — perfectly cooked with just the right amount of spice. The chicken tinga, however, fell flat. Dry and flavorless, Morgan would not recommend. The tostada, which was basically just a crunchy taco, did not justify the higher price tag. If she were to go back, she would just order steak tacos or a tamale and experiment a little more.

Between the quick service, short drive and chill atmosphere, La Taquiza earns an 7/10 on the Lexie-Morgan-Food-Rating Scale. We subtracted three points because of the high price and room for flavor improvement.

While these more costly prices might not be for everyone, you can always count on La Taquiza during Winnetka Wednesdays! For $2 per taco, it is a great discount. However, we recommend you do not order online on these days, as the discount does not carry over online.

Stay tuned…in future editions, we’ll explore more Winnetka lunch spots and see which ones are worth your precious 35 minutes.

Want to nominate your favorite spot? Send an email to dsj@nscds.org.