Arturo's Tacos

2001 N. Western Ave.

Open 24 hrs.

12/02 CHICAGO: Oh, the Food!

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For a vegetarian, life in Chicago might seem tough, but usually it only takes a willingness to ask for what you want, and an openness to notice the possibilities in any situation.

I wasn't too hopeful about Arturo's Tacos, a casual Mexican place on the corner of Western and Armitage. Their menu, painted on the back wall behind the counter, featured every conceivable meat from a pig or a cow, and even poultry and fish, but didn't suggest the existence of a non-meat burrito option.

But a burrito was what I wanted, so I enquired, "Can you make me a burrito with no meat?"

"Oh, you mean a veggie burrito?" the guy behind the counter asked. "Sure, no problem."

And what a burrito it was, a massive two-handed feast, stuffed with crisp shredded lettuce, fresh tomato, beans, rice, cheese, and large chunks of buttery ripe avocado. With the addition of a little of the house salsas (a mild green tomatillo, and a zesty red sauce) it was all my taste buds could desire.

Our order for two (which could easily have fed more) included an equally delicious avocado soft taco and avocado tostada, and they threw in a big bag of thick freshmade tortilla chips.

As we waited for our food to be assembled, I noticed the juicer behind the counter, and decided to try the orange juice.

I watched as the woman took a pile of oranges and cut them in half, and proceeded to squeeze at least twenty of those halves into the 32 oz. styrofoam tumbler. I couldn't believe it--at $2.25 the utterly fresh, foamy juice with just the right amount of pulp was a bargain extraordinaire. In fact our whole meal, at a total cost of about $12, was a great deal.

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