Chicago Latin Restaurant Weeks returns with fewer participating restaurants due to immigration uncertainty

Chicago Tribune

4 days ago

Latin Restaurant Weeks is back for its fifth year in Chicago with chefs, restaurants and pop-ups hoping to highlight the diverse flavors of the Hispanic culinary scene across the city with prix fixe menus ranging from traditional homestyle recipes to ones serving up modern mole pizza.
While there is a diverse lineup and a variety of specials to pick from, this year's 20 participating restaurants is almost half what the number was last year, largely due to the political climate. Organizers for Latin Restaurant Weeks said many of its usual roster of restaurants are feeling the economic and emotional effects of the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement in the city and suburbs, forcing them to fly under the radar.
'People are just hypervigilant and we're proud of who we are and what we do,' said Karinn Chavarria, founder of Latin Restaurant Weeks. 'Food is what brings us together, and food is such a big part of our culture, but when you're being scrutinized, it's like you're having to take a step back in order to take a step forward. It's a very, very weird dichotomy going on right now. It's a strange place to be, and it's a strange place to operate.'
Chavarria said events like Latin Restaurant Weeks make cultural cuisines accessible to people who are unfamiliar with Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, Oaxacan dishes — beyond the usual tacos and tamales. And in the current climate, the event boosts the importance of culture and food instead of the despair and political plight the community has felt in recent months.
Chavarria said that since launching five years ago, a majority of participating restaurants across Atlanta, Chicago and Miami witnessed up to a 20% increase in diners, as well as a boost in social media engagement during and after each campaign.
Jessica Perjes, co-owner of family-owned Tacotlan in the Hermosa neighborhood, has participated each year since Latin Restaurant Weeks launched in 2019, serving the spot's beloved quesabirrias for a bargain. There's an added emphasis on promoting the event this year, she added.
'This really highlights all the effort that we put into making sure that we share our cuisine, that we showcase how much love we put into every day,' Perjes said. 'We came to the States — we struggled so hard to try to get here that it's so important for people to show out and support everybody that's trying to make it through that struggle, especially now.'
Perjes said a lot of people in Hermosa or Pilsen are scared to go out these days because of the fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in predominantly Latino and Hispanic communities. On the other hand, many restaurant owners are also hesitant to keep operations open.
'That's why Latin Restaurant Weeks is the best way to go about it, so those customers (and owners) know all of Chicago is rooting for all Latinos to keep going and keep their doors open,' Perjes said.
For Latin Restaurant Weeks, Tacotlan is offering a $25 special that includes a large drink, three taco dinner (choice of asada, chicken, al pastor, or beef or chicken quesabirrias) and a choice of flan, churro tres leches or duvalin for dessert.
At Rubi's Chicago in Pilsen, owner Evelyn Ramirez Landa is serving a $15 sope, a traditional Mexican dish with a fried masa base and savory toppings.
'We call it picadita where my parents are from in Mexico,' said Ramirez Landa. 'It's going to be the sope and a stew of potatoes and a tomato sauce that's a little bit spicy — it's just how they do it where my dad is from.'
Ramirez Landa said she's also excited about serving customers an ice-cold 'chilate' — a Mexican drink from the state of Guerrero made with cacao beans, cinnamon, rice and brown sugar.
Last year, Rubi's Latin Restaurant Weeks special was such a hit, they put it on the menu permanently. Ramirez Landa expects about the same this time, too.
Other participants this year include Sabe a Zulia, serving authentic Venezuelan staples from arepas to patacon; Oak Park-based Hoja Santa with Mexican fusion dishes including mole pizza, Calabaza (roasted butternut squash, salsa macha and roasted cashews) and Tuetano (roasted bone marrow with grilled nopales, red salsa and tortillas).
Artango Bar & Steakhouse will be offering a $60 three-course meal, with options including ceviche nikkei, bife de chorizo and flan, while Bar Tabu will serve a $45 five-course meal, with options including chips and salsa, yucca fries, surf and turf flautas, asada tacos and churro bites.
Humboldt Park's Buen Provecho is offering traditional Puerto Rican fare with a jibarito with arroz con gandules and tostones, while Azul Marisco's has a three-course meal for $25. Guests can choose the shrimp ceviche or elotes, a taco flight and cinnamon ice cream churro.