A recent New York Times list named the 26 best restaurant dishes in the United States in 2024, with a birria dish found in Chicago leading the way.
The birria dish from Birrieria Ocotlan, which has two locations in the far southeast of the city, was singled out in the annual list.
With a recipe that dates back nearly a century, the dish has been praised for its simplicity in an establishment that smells of braised goat cheese during opening hours.
Birrieria Ocotlan has locations at 4007 East 106th Street and 8726 South Commercial Avenue.
While the birria was Chicago’s only representative, the ham sandwich from Mike’s Famous Ham Place in Detroit and the Lebanese Sundae from Leila in Detroit were both honored, making up the Midwest representation of the list.
A preview of the full New York Times list can be found here.
