Birrieria Zaragoza — Restaurant in Lake Township

I took the time to read the reviews before I left mine, but we all have different experiences. Server was yapping and as soon as people started coming in she left us and started seating them, took their drink order while we waited for her to take our order since we were there first. When we arrived there were only 3 employees. By the time we were over it, there was over 10 employees, so the girl in white wasn’t all over the place anymore.

Our birria arrived and I am from Zapopan. Surprised is an understatement. No salsa, no spicy salsa, the red skinny bottle tasted like menudo consomé. It was not good. They only provided 3 chiles de árbol come on man. LOLL. I saw a response from the owner towards a previous judge about how it takes 12+ hours to prep & cook but the meat was burned and the consomé was red and opaque. The only good thing I had was the tortillas.

I asked the waitress for salt, she proceeded to say como está la birria, I smiled and said I needed salt. She asked again, I was putting the hard lime that was dry and my boyfriend replied. She asked again and at this point I was already triggered cus is she blind? I am seasoning my food bc it is bland! No ay chile!!!!!!! And I responded and said, APENAS LE VOY A DAR. Hangryyyy!!! Like the previous comment. She didn’t bother us again, eventually some lady in black attire came to ask us again but rest assured the waitress got the memo.

Mesera confianzuda. Que le importa! 2nd thing she asked was if me and my boyfriend were CRUDOS. I said NO, TENGO HAMBRE. What makes you think people are hungover????? I’m hangry and sober be f foreal. -8/10 stars for customer service. Uno viene a comer no a que le den entrevista. People around us were uncomfortable by her questioning as well. There was a couple with a kid who arrive and before she took their order she asked them: “y que van hacer hoy? the lady literally LOL’d and said pos NADA” 😂 like what! who cares!!! people want to eat dude.

The café casero was 5$ each no sugar. We asked for cafe de olla, she said yes we have some. That’s not cafe de olla. Era pura agua negra ni café tenía la agua.

We took the L and the $68 & some change for some shty as experience. Womp womp. The jarrito would’ve...

Birrieria Zaragoza is a true hidden gem. The moment you walk in, you can feel the warmth of the place. The staff is incredible, moving quickly but never too busy to crack a joke or greet you like family. There’s a sense of community here, like everyone knows they’re about to experience something special.

Of course, I had to order the star of the show, The birria tacos. And let me tell you, these weren’t just tacos, they were masterpieces. Served on fresh, handmade tortillas, each taco was massive, loaded with an incredibly generous portion of birria. The tortillas had that perfect golden char, slightly crisp at the edges but soft enough to soak up all the rich juices from the meat.

The first bite? Pure bliss. The birria was beyond tender, slow-cooked to perfection, with deep, rich flavors that melted in my mouth. Every strand of meat was juicy, infused with smoky, slightly spicy, and perfectly balanced seasoning. Topped with finely chopped onions and fresh cilantro, the flavors came alive, adding a bright contrast to the deep, savory richness of the meat.

The consome on the side was pure liquid gold. Deep red, full of flavor, and just the right consistency, it was the ultimate dipping sauce. Dunking the taco into the broth, watching it soak up that rich, aromatic goodness, it was next level. The flavor was bold yet comforting, warming me from the inside out.

Every bite was a perfect balance of textures and tastes, the crispy edges of the tortilla, the melt-in-your-mouth birria, the crunch of fresh onions, and the burst of citrus from a squeeze of lime. It was one of those meals where you just sit back and savor every moment, already planning your next visit before you even finish eating.

Birrieria Zaragoza creates an experience. A meal here is joy, plain and simple. If you haven’t been yet, do...

A world-class experience in hospitality and food.

The restaurant serves a unique style of birria compared to the typical stewed-and-shredded version.

Their meat, as displayed in the birria and quesabirria taco, was wonderfully crisp and tender from the roasting with a clean unfettered goat taste. The quesabirria taco was a textural dream, with the crunchy mole-coated taco shell and the chihuahua cheese giving the taco a nice chew.

The cabeza taco was something I’ve never had before, a super rich and moist taco that truly melts in your mouth.

Not to be missed is their salsa de molcajete, which had a somewhat spicy rich charred tomato base with deep and smoky notes from the peppers. It is a perfect complement to the birria, supplementing the acidity of the lime and adding moisture to the meat while also providing spice.

Everything we had was phenomenal, and I would love to return and try their aguas frescas and birria platter when I have more stomach space.

Despite the phenomenal food, what made me smile the hardest and fall in love with this restaurant is the sense of community it exudes and that is demonstrated by every one working there. Most of the patrons are familiar and addressed very playfully, and all of the staff ooze with genuine care and desire to provide.

John and Norma are both beautiful souls, and it reflects in the pure quality of food that they produce. We had a lovely conversation with Norma, and she left me with multiple lessons that I’ll keep with me when cooking for myself.

I am truly saddened that this restaurant will only be available to me while on vacation in Chicago, and wish I could give something higher...