Tacos Before Vatos Opens Behind Food 4 Less On Larkin Avenue

CREST HILL, IL —A new takeout and delivery restaurant, Tacos Before Vatos, has opened in Crest Hill's Hillcrest Shopping Center directly behind the Food 4 Less grocery store. Tacos Before Vatos is at 1701 Larkin Ave., across from the U.S. Army military recruiting station.

Tacos Before Vatos is owned by Marco Alcantar and his wife, Brianna. This marks his first restaurant location. He's been building his catering business waiting for this day to happen.

He said his catering business "has been all over" including Taste of Joliet, Romeoville Fest, Dixon, several classic car shows, the Joliet Amazon fulfillment center and events for Joliet's trade unions.

Tacos Before Vatos opened one week ago, on May 8. The two "biggest sellers" on the menu have been the Al Pastor, which is seasoned pork, and the arrachera, which is Mexican skirt steak. There are seven different kinds of tacos and seven different types of tortas.

The new Crest Hill restaurant also offers a taco dinner. For $14, you get three tacos plus rice and beans. The restaurant's side orders are: elote en vaso, guacamole with chips, side of rice and side of beans. One of the drinks is horchata, which is rice water.

Positive reviews on social media and word of mouth through Facebook has been driving the business so far, Mario Alcantar told Joliet Patch's editor during Monday's afternoon.

"It's doing pretty well actually for lunch," the owner remarked. "Thank God, I thought, for word of mouth. We put it on Facebook, and we got a lot of reviews."

Tacos Before Vatos is also working with Uber Eats, the owner noted.

With the property next door currently empty, Alcantar said he is thinking about expanding Tacos Before Vatos, that way, he will have additional space to accommodate dine-in customers. "We're looking to expand," he added.

Tacos Before Vatos is normally open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. The number to call for carryout or delivery orders is 815-630-4064.

ONE LAST THING: Alcantar wants people and area business owners to know that Tacos Before Vatos still handles catering for private parties, large corporate events, festivals and pop-ups.

"Specializing in our arrachera skirt steak," his restaurant flyer proclaims.